your comments
CA Jones, Pontypridd
No mention of how Neil Kinnock led the Welsh Labour revolt against devolution for Wales in the 1979 referendum - why? Apparently it's one of the campaigns he's most proud to have participated in. Is this a BBC Wales website? Why isn't this information included in Neil Kinnock's entry?
vgmorgan ex Blackwood
Kinnock? Made a promising start.Had my sympathy during the early days but descended into the realm of power politics-not that he had much power outside the Party.Made the best of his last defeat and caught the train to Brussels.Rose again from the Depth and ascended to his to his highest level of Icompetance and Hypocracy.Sic transit gloria Kinnock...oops,sorry Lord Bedwellty.........
Geoff Sore - Cambridge
Kinnock is one of the finest examples of New Labour politicians - the pursuit of power and personal wealth with no moral values or scruples what so ever. What has he done for Wales? Nothing. What has he done for Socialism in New Labour? Adopted Capitalism in all but name. What did he achieve when paid a huge salary by the EU (that's you and me) to defeat internal corruption? Nothing except pillory Marta Andreasen when she had the temerity to bring examples to his attention. The EU accounts have been rejected for the 13th year in succession by The Court of Auditors and fraud now reportedly risen 17% since 2006 to 1.4 billion Euros in 2007 - thanks Neil you did a good job there then. Kinnock and his family members should have been kicked out of their gravy train EU jobs and the salaries saved (plus pension rights) given to Marta Andreasen in her new appointment as Anti Corruption Commissioner with "all access" unlimited powers of investigation and publication.
Bob Kelly, Tredegar
Kinnock managed to help modernise the Labour Party and except for the early death of John Smith the outcome may have been far different.
Michael Cremonesi from Mersham
At the height of the cold war, Neil Kinnock said that if he became prime minister, he would try to negotiate a multilateral nuclear disarmament deal with the Soviet Union. But if this failed, he said, he would dismantle the British nuclear deterrent anyway. How the Soviets must have relished the prospect of Kinnock becoming PM. As EU commissioner Kinnock was mandated to tighten up on accounting procedures to deal with massive fraud and corruption aknowledged within the EU. Yet when Marta Andreasen, a senior EC accountant, drew attention to the fact that there were no proper accounting procedures in place, and that there was widespread abuse and corruption, he sacked her for disloyalty. When the entire EU commission was sacked some years ago to clear out the corruption and make a fresh start, Kinnock was challenged on the EC corruption during a TV newscast. He replied: 'You can rest assured that if I had known about it (the corruption and fraud), I would have dealt with it...'. Thankfully, it wasn't difficult for the British electorate to see through this man.
Denis Rogers from Llanhilleth
What a pillock, ruined lives by his policies, look what's happening today, Brown useless, Blair I'm lost for words. Someone said he was a fool, he's NO fool - we are the fools, he and his family rich beyond our wildest dreams, him a millionaire drinking and feasting on the gravy train. A Socialist, don't make me laugh
John Booker from Sidcup
Neil kinnock can now claim one of the pinnacles of his career in the EU was helping to grind Marta Andreas, the honest whistleblower, into the dust. The EU's accounts rejected for the 13th year by The Court of Auditors. What were Kinnock's achievements while a Commissioner for years charged with cleaning up the corruption in the EU? The record speaks for itself. Still, a nice little earner for him and family furthering those socialist ideals.
Brian Jones, Gloucester
Why is it that Neil Kinnock can arouse such bitterness? I too remember lost elections. I joined the Labour Party when Mrs Thatcher came to power. I knew then what a dangerous person she was. She was on her way out after one election but the Falklands factor saved her. It was no failing of Mr Kinnock (note the Mr) that he was expected to champion policies like unilateralism that would not/could not win against a polished Thatcherite propaganda campaign. I remember him trying, and I remember the dirty tricks of the Tories who had councillors ringing him on talk shows pretending to be forces pertsonel. The "clown" image mentioned above was a Saatchi creation. He is a man that I will always admire, both he and his wife cared enough to try. We live in a blame culture where we pillory those who do not do as we would have liked them to have done. At least he had a go and I could not blame him for those who came after.
Neil Upham, Newport formerly Risca
Upset at the nasty remarks towards a sincere and honest man who I got to know. Never any side to him, always nice to you, will always be criticised and his role reduced because we will never know what a difference he may/would have made. I wish him and his family well.
Alan Rowlands
A misguided fool led astray after failing to be a leader of men and the Labour party. Should hang his head in shame while he and his wife takes the 30 pieces of silver Euros from his new masters. Failed in Europe to achieve anything while so much needs to be done.
Loo from London
Why honour Mr Kinnock?? He has helped to put us into the EU, where millions of pounds of our money is going. Is that why this government is scraping up money from wherever they can get it?? We don't rule ourselves any more, we are not allowed to police our borders and control immigration, all because of the EU which Mr Kinnock helped to put or keep in place.
Wil, Wrexham
Kinnock achieved nothing except lucrative positions for himself and his family, yes, his family, although I must give Glenys Kinnock credit for being elected, the rest of his family just walked into jobs created for them. His failure to do the job he was appointed to do, eliminate the corruption in the EU finances, is indicative of his lack of ability, he couldn't even stop the whistle-blower being sacked. He did change the real Labour party - see what he left us with, a government with sleaze up to its eyeballs.
Glyn Kembrey, ex Pill Newport, now Bristol
Kinnock is a discrace to the working class man ... Bevan would turn in his grave if he knew what Kinnock and Blair are doing to this great country.
Lyndon Hunt , Blackwood
Neil Kinnock was a regular at Billys, the barbers in the Circle Tredegar where I did my apprenticeship. He would come in have a haircut, start an argument and leave. He sometimes left forgetting to have his hair cut.
Brychan Roberts, Merthyr Tydfil
It is ironic and tragic for the UK that Kinnock from the same home town as Nye Bevan is primarily responsible for bringing to power Tony Blair the man (who along with Gordon Brown the next prime minister) is likely to achieve what Thatcher never dared to try - the privatisation of the NHS. What price being in power if the Labour party ends up betraying its most scared trust to defend the NHS.
Dave Meredith from Gloucestershire
What Neil Kinnock would have achieved as a Prime Minister we will never know. His real achievement was turning the Labout Party round in the 1980's. It was unelectable and dominated by the Militant Tendancy and other left wing pressure groups. When you look at the current Labour Party it's hard to remember how hopeless things were in the 1980's when we desperately needed a credible alternative to Mrs Thatcher. Neil Kinnock displayed great courage in taking on the extreme left and making the party electable again. I would go as far as to say that there wasn't anyone else with the guts to do what he did then. The beneficiaries of his work were John Smith and Tony Blair. In the 1980's there was no guarantee that there would ever be another Labour government again. The fact that we've had one for nearly 10 years is down to Neil Kinnock.
Danny French from Melksham, Wilts
Neil Kinnock is the man responsible for making Labour a serious fighting force again, no question. He was an excellent leader and I'm sure would have been a much better PM than Tony Blair ... a top man.
Peter Stockham from Cardiff
I remember him addressing a meeting in the T&G hall in Newport when he was anti common market. Strange how his views changed when he got a chance to climb on the gravy train.
Chris O'Connell, Gateshead, born and raised in Tre
Kinnock's campaign against devolution was contributary to the collapse of the Callaghan Government. He bears a heavy responsibility for Thatcherism and the neo-Thatcherite norms that have continued. The Welsh Assembly, while not popular, has made genuine communitarian moves, for example in education. If set up in 1979, Wales would have benefited with some degree of honour. As it turned out the worst of the Demon Lady's excesses had to be ameliorated through the unelected, but largely liberal Welsh Office.
Jeff Harris from Llandudno
Some of the comments above are plain stupid. Politics is a tough business and Kinnock was an excellent leader of a totally inept politcal party. To say Labour would of been in power years before his retirement is comical. I was a member of the party at the time and they where viewed as outdated and a joke by their own members. Maybe Mr Mills felt the British Public would vote for Tony Benn or John Silkin. Kinnock modernised and dragged the party into the centre where it should always be in my view. British Democratic socialism is moderate and always will be. Thanks Mr Kinnock, we all owe you a debt of gratitude.
Ralph, Tredegar
Neil Kinnock was a regular vistor to my father's shop in the 1950s, Owen Tredegar Greengrocer and fishmonger Ltd.
Mark Allison, Blackpool ex Tredegar
Neil Kinnock achieved far more for Labour and South Wales than any other politician of his generation. He made Labour electable again. The English Establishment was agaist him because of his background. He would have made an excellent Prime Minister.
Chris Halls from Brighton
Neil Kinnock was a reformist who believed he or the Labour Party could make capitalism work better than the capitalist class. He inevitably ended up as an agent for that class starting the process of making the Labour Party a party of the capitalist class. He now has a high paid job doing the bidding of that class. A very dangerous windbag.
Melanie, Abertillery
I think Neil Kinnock did a fairly good job as leader of the Labour Party. He set New Labour in motion and I think his passion inspired a lot of people, myself included, to become more involved with politics.
Dwayne Haddix, CO, USA
Go Neil!!!
Emyr Morgan from Llandeilo
Neil Kinnock betrayed the miners of Wales in 1984 just as he betrayed all of the people of Wales in 1979. If devolution had arrived in 1979, I strongly feel that Wales would have been saved from the ravages of Thatcher. Instead Kinnock, Abse and co left Wales to the mercies of the free market.
Wil Edwards, Corwen, North Wales
Insofar as Wales is concerned, Neil Kinnock is and always will be a traitor. His opposition to a Welsh Assembly in 1979 demonstrated clearly his contempt and complete lack of loyalty towards his country of birth. He and his wife Glenys are just gravy train merchants and have been a waste of space for a very long time
John Watts from Cardiff
Mr. Kinnock taught History in the secondary scool. He was only a student at that time. dressed in his brown corded jacket and a mop of ginger hair. I remember him throwing the blackboard rubber at me for not paying attention to him he missed me but not the boy sitting behind me.
Peter Kelly from Belfast
Neil Kinnock will always be the best PM Britain never had. Tony Blair knows that he owes his premiership to him, and the British people owe Kinnock a huge debt of gratitude. Any cynicism noted above is shameful. Simplistic Tory voters who delivered Major and the Poll Tax. Thanks, guys...
Jeremy Carver, Brussels
Neil Kinnock was an amusing addition to a mostly bland Commission. That he could be relied on to turn up at the opening of an envelope is testament both to his jovial approach to life and how little work he actually did. Unfortunately as an ineffectual British Commissioner he did the EU and the UK a great disservice - particularly now in the age of UKIP when the EU is in real need of accurate and passionate advocacy in Britain.
Barry Waddilove from Lancashire
Neil Kinnock is an embarrassment, a failed, pathetic and stupid little man not worthy of any acknowledgement whatsoever.
Organised bureaucracy costs us far much more than organised crime, so both Kinnock and his wife gravitate to the European corrupt bureaucracy for their easy lifestyle at our expense.
Instead, they should be investigated together with all Euro politicians and exposed for what they are, deceptive money grabbing parasites.
Why on earth is he allowed television airtime.
Rog from Pontypridd
Kinnock is an honest man at heart and tries his best. Shame he isn't very capable. If he could have reformed the EU like he reformed the Labour Party, he would have done well. As he didn't he can be summed up by two words from Del-boy - Worra Plonker.
Bryn from Caer
Kinnock has done more harm to the image of Wales and the Welsh people than any other person. His windbag image in England and North Wales is a typical stereotype and is absolutely understandable.
Mr Dai Dap
I met Neil Kinnock when he visited Lewis Boys School in the run up to the 92 election.
He was a product of a local working class area, who bettered himself through education and his own abilities. I believe he remained true to his roots.
We would have been a better country if we had a period of leadership under him.
Robert Fairless from Northumberland
I regard Kinnock as a Welsh windbag who has failed miserably in his present job to which he was not elected. He will shortly be getting a huge pension (excess of £60,000) to which he has not contributed.
Kate Collins from South Wales - living in Derby
I believe Neil Kinnock is worthy of great honour. He is a kind man with strong beliefs and has always done what he can for the people of Wales. I met him twice due two school events at Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School, and he had a fabulous sense of humour.
Patrick O'Connor from Bournemouth
Whilst I felt the most excrutiating pain at Kinnock's defeat in 1992, I have come to suspect he would have been a one-term PM, facing a run on the pound and other economic difficulties - rising inflation through an over-benevolent approach to the trade unions being a primary problem.Also, the new Tory leader (Heseltine or Clarke) would have been able to capitalise on these issues. Whilst I think Tony Blair is so wishy-washy as to be almost indistinguishable from a Tory, I would sooner have him in his second term than another real Tory government.
I agree the Sheffield rally snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. I remember the very moment it occurred. I was in my local pub (by no means a Tory pub), and my ecstatic cheers for Neil Kinnock drew looks of alarm. Oh well, life's turned out better (financially at least) for Neil than a probable single term in Downing Street. Keep the red flag flying!!
John Howe
What I remember was a kind man who had time to talk. A man with a passion, yes, but who wants a bland politician we have too many of that kind already? The problem with Neil is the problem of England and the English - he was too passionate for them, he was too Welsh for them. We lost a great potential Prime Minister through the prejudices of another region.
Gareth J Jones from Abertillery
He has always been a role model for me. I have enormous respect for him and all that he achieved. If it was not for him then there would be no Labour party, new or otherwise, around today.
Mr L Mills from Pontllanfraith
Mr Kinnock is the biggest embarrassment to our area for many years. If it had not been for his 'clown' image, Labour would have been in power many years before Mr Kinnock retired. What has he or his wife ever done that has benefited the people of this area? They are both at this very moment in time a 'non voice'' in Europe, just as HE was while he was in the UK Government. If we are to honour our local men, at least honour someone who is WORTHY of honour!
EU Commissioner and former Labour leader
