Kinnock worked as a research assistant at the Brussels European Parliament before becoming a British Council Development and Training Services executive based in Brussels in 1997. He held various positions with the British Council including director of its St. Petersburg office. Following the Russian authorities' closure of this office, Kinnock was posted to the British Council in Sierra Leone. In January 2009, he joined the World Economic Forum as director, head of Europe and Central Asia, based in Geneva, Switzerland. In August 2012, he took up a position at Xyntéo in London, Kinnock was managing director of the "Global Leadership and Technology Exchange" in 2012.
Political career
In March 2014, Kinnock was selected as the Labour Party candidate for the seat of Aberavon in Wales for the 2015 General Election. On 7 May 2015, he was elected the Member of Parliament for Aberavon with a majority of 10,445. He was re-elected in 2017 with an increased majority of 16,761, and 68.1% of the vote share. He supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election. During the 2017 general election campaign, Kinnock was one of four MPs critical of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party who were followed for six weeks for the BBC documentary Labour: The Summer that Changed Everything. The documentary showed Kinnock predicting the poll would "not be a good night" for Labour, and his response to Labour gains in the election. Kinnock held his seat at the 2019 general election. He endorsed Lisa Nandy in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.
Personal life
In 1996, Kinnock married Helle Thorning-Schmidt, who later became Prime Minister of Denmark. They met when both attended the College of Europe. The couple have two daughters. In June 2010, the Danish tabloid BT accused Kinnock of tax evasion. At that time he was paying tax in Switzerland where his workplace was situated, and therefore had his main residence there, although his wife's political website states that "The family lives in Østerbro in Copenhagen". The couple had previously stated to the media that Kinnock would spend his weekends in Denmark, sometimes including Thursday, and that he regarded his home and base as being exclusively with his family in Copenhagen. According to the tabloid, he would possibly exceed 183 days a year in Denmark, meaning he would be fully taxable there. His wife, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, rebutted the accusations but said the couple would ask the Danish tax authority for an audit. The audit by the Danish Tax & Customs Administration was concluded on 17 September 2010, and in its Official Report SKAT stated that "Mr Kinnock does not have tax liability for 2007, 08, or 09, as he does not reside in this country within the meaning of the Danish Tax at Sources Act". Kinnock is an honorary associate of the National Secular Society. When his father was created a life peer in 2005 as Baron Kinnock of Holyhead, Kinnock was granted the prefix The Honourable as the son of a baron. As it is a life peerage rather than a hereditary peerage, Kinnock will not inherit his father's title upon his death.
COVID-19 lockdown controversy
Kinnock posted a photo on Twitter after travelling from Wales to London to visit his father on his birthday on 28 March 2020 – five days after the lockdown came into force. They were social distancing, but South Wales Police responded: "We know celebrating your Dad's birthday is a lovely thing to do, however this is not essential travel. We all have our part to play in this, we urge you to comply with @GOVUK restrictions, they are in place to keep us all safe. Thank you." Kinnock stated that "this was essential travel as I had to deliver some necessary supplies to my parents".
