Unanimous unhappiness on Fleet Street over distinctive journalist’s demise
By Virginia Blackburn
As information of Patrick O’Flynn’s demise unfold, the sense of grief and unhappiness was palpable. An distinctive journalist, all of us who knew and beloved him are nonetheless in a state of shock. Fellow political journalists commented on his expertise, capacity and nous, former colleagues commented on his kindness and helpfulness after they had been simply beginning out. Patrick was solely 59 and may have had one other 30 years with us.
But stage 4 liver most cancers has robbed us of an excellent journalist and campaigner. He is not only leaving a gap on this lifetime of his mates and colleagues, however within the lifetime of the nation too. He was, arguably, one of many main movers behind Brexit: when as chief political correspondent on the Daily Express, he was instrumental in persuading this newspaper to change into the primary to name for the nation to depart the European Union.
Later as a UKIP MEP he campaigned for a referendum, briefly leaving his profession in journalism. He was additionally a terrific pal of mine: we sat beside one another at work for the very best a part of a decade and engaged in banter that ranged from the intense to the ridiculous.
We had been mates out of labor and, once I acquired along with my now husband 5 years in the past, Patrick and his spouse, journalist and life coach Carole Ann, and Justin and I grew to become couple mates in addition to particular person mates. The banter continued over our dinner desk. How may he have been taken from us so quickly?
Patrick James O’Flynn was born on August 29, 1965, in Cambridge, one in all 5 youngsters, and subsequently went on to check economics at King’s College, Cambridge, adopted by a diploma in journalism from City, University of London.
He began his profession on the Birmingham Post, the place he not solely started to ascertain himself as a journalist of nice renown, but in addition met Carole Ann, who labored on the paper. The couple went on to marry and had a son and a daughter.
“We met on the Birmingham Post where I was the fashion editor and he was chief news reporter,” Carole Ann remembers. “He had been Yorkshire Journalist of the Year. I loved his ambition and drive to make a difference – expose the hypocrites and bad guys in politics.
“He was so talented. We were opposites – he needed little and wasn’t into material things whereas I thought a girl could never have enough gold shoes or bottles of perfume. His love for me was one of deep devotion. I was in love with that pure love.”
Patrick moved to first the Sunday Express and, later, the Daily Express, the place he wrote incisively and entertainingly about politics, however he may flip his hand to any topic in any respect. One of essentially the most entertaining items he ever wrote was with reference to the connection between a person and his garden: Patrick had been identified, he confided, to mow his garden whereas nonetheless carrying a swimsuit.
Indeed, Patrick was identified for his fits, which tended to be gray and dapper, though he was something however a gray swimsuit in temperament: wherever he was there was laughter, regardless of how severe the matter underneath dialogue.
It is uncommon to say of any journalist that by no means was a foul phrase spoken about them – it may be a divisive occupation – however that was actually the case with him. He labored because the political editor till 2005, when he grew to become the chief remark editor. I labored alongside him then and it was one of many happiest intervals of my working life.
Patrick may have stayed within the foyer, the group of journalists allowed entry to Westminster and who specialize in writing about politics, however within the early years of this century he started to really feel that his future lay elsewhere.
But like so many others he was feeling disillusioned with the EU and so grew to become concerned in UKIP, persuading the then-editor of the Daily Express to again requires a referendum, in addition to campaigning to depart. Eventually he went into politics full time, turning into the MEP for the East of England, a task he held from 2014 to 2019.
In 2018, involved concerning the appointment of Tommy Robinson to be an adviser of the get together, he defected to the Social Democratic Party, earlier than stepping down as an MEP.
To the delight of all of us who revered his skills enormously, Patrick returned to journalism. He began a weekly column on this newspaper – insightful and humorous, however above all effectively knowledgeable – in addition to contributing elsewhere.
His enjoyment of household life continued, particularly when he grew to become a grandfather final 12 months. “He was a family man who adored his children and our 19 month granddaughter was the apple of his eye,” stated Carole Ann.
Outside of household and work, his different best ardour was the music of The Jam, typically travelling to see former members taking part in dwell regardless of how distant. When their former drummer Rick Buckler died in February, Patrick wrote: “One of three people who kept me sane and inspired during difficult times in adolescence. And the sensational drummer for the greatest band in the whole world.”
Patrick’s personal sickness was identified simply 10 weeks in the past and it developed in a short time. Thankfully, he was surrounded by his household when he died at round 5.30pm on Tuesday. The unhappiness in Fleet Street has been unanimous.
“It was my privilege to have Patrick O’Flynn as a brilliant political editor,” stated former Express editor Peter Hill. “He was a major force in the Brexit campaign and a wonderful friend and counsellor, an inspiration to all who worked with him at the Daily Express. He will be remembered with respect and affection.”
Political commentator Tim Shipman, who not solely labored with Patrick within the foyer, however began his profession alongside Patrick on the Express, stated: “Patrick was a very good hack and a very nice man. And was arguably quite ahead of most of Westminster in understanding what was going on out there. He had a real twinkle in his eye.”
He did. Patrick, a tremendous journalist and an exquisite human being, shall be very tremendously missed.
Farewell to a terrific and dynamic pressure
By Leo McKinstry
The fickle hand of destiny will be terribly merciless. Patrick O’Flynn, one of the vital distinctive voices in political journalism, has been snatched from us on the peak of his powers. He had achieved a lot in his wealthy profession but he had a lot extra to supply. A superb illuminator of the political scene, the place his piercing insights had been matched by his outstanding prescience and his courageous willingness to problem the pieties of standard knowledge, he leaves a gaping gap in his occupation.
In reality, it could possibly be argued that Patrick was essentially the most influential British political journalist of recent instances via the essential function he performed in Brexit. It was his eloquent, passionate advocacy of British freedom that persuaded the Express’s then editor Peter Hill, together with the paper’s deputy editor Hugh Whittow, to marketing campaign for our departure from the Brussels Empire.
At the time, the paper was the lone backer of Brexit and was mocked for its isolation. But the temper modified because the excesses of European rule worsened, particularly on immigration. Other papers adopted the Express’s lead and, by 2016, victory had been secured within the Referendum.
No main newspaper marketing campaign has ever been so decisive. Patrick may justly declare to have altered the course of Britain’s future.
The print commerce is a tough, aggressive one, stuffed with clanging egos, but Patrick all the time remained a beneficiant, modest, warm-hearted determine. I found this for myself once I joined the Express as a columnist in 2005. He couldn’t have been extra useful as he confirmed me how one can sharpen up my copy and lengthen the vary of topics I coated. I knew I used to be studying from a grasp craftsman who was already a political veteran with greater than 20 years’ expertise at Westminster.
Unlike so many political pundits, he was a correctly educated journalist with a diploma from City University, the place he was described because the “outstanding” scholar of his 12 months. He actually lived as much as that early promise.
After a stint on the Birmingham Post, he moved to the Express. The Tory inter-war Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin as soon as described Lloyd George as “a great, dynamic force” and the phrase could possibly be utilized to Patrick.
I by no means ceased to marvel on the pace with which he wrote his copy, although tempo by no means diminished the punchy high quality of his prose. He was additionally unrivalled in his capacity to analyse how a political state of affairs would unfold.
He may expertly learn a state of affairs the way in which England’s World Cup-winning supervisor Sir Alf Ramsey may learn a soccer match. Patrick was in such demand as a result of, as with Brexit, he was proper so typically.
All of us who had been touched by his humour, knowledge and friendship will miss him. But he leaves behind an inspiring legacy.
A journalist who moved the dial and saved forward of the sport
By Nigel Farage
Political journalists are typically a fairly cynical bunch. Their job is to commentate on what they observe, speculate as to the intentions of Prime Ministers, Leaders of the Opposition and do their greatest to foretell what would possibly come sooner or later.
There are only a few who’ve ever moved the dial when it comes to the political course of the nation. However, Patrick O’Flynn, whose unhappy and quite sudden demise we learnt of on Tuesday, was one who did.
During his time as Political Editor of the Daily Express, he more and more grew to become of the view that Britain actually ought to depart the European Union.
So a lot so, he was one of many essential elements that persuaded the then proprietor of the newspaper, Richard Desmond, to return out in 2014 as a newspaper to say it was time for Britain to depart the European Union. Much of the remainder of the press world thought the Express had gone mad, however no, they had been proper and forward of the sport.
So motivated was Patrick by his want for Britain to depart the European Union that he left his job as Political Editor, joined UKIP, grew to become my Director of Communications, after which ran and succeeded in turning into a member of the European Parliament.
After he had served his time period, he stated he was going to enter semi-retirement, however truly his output has been prolific over the course of the final couple of years, each in print and as a contributor to GB News.
Indeed, he was one of many individuals who, in 2024, was continually ringing me and inspiring me to get again into the political fray myself. The world of politics and journalism has misplaced a quietly spoken however deeply revered and in style determine.
For his household, which meant every part to him, we ship our sincerest condolences to Carole Ann and his two youngsters. Patrick shall be tremendously missed.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2058360/patrick-oflynns-life-words-those