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The Right Honourable
Jonathan Reynolds
MP
Official portrait, 2024
Secretary of State for Business and Trade
President of the Board of Trade
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 July 2024
Prime MinisterKeir Starmer
Preceded byKemi Badenoch
Shadow cabinet positions
2020–2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade[a]
In office
29 November 2021 – 5 July 2024
LeaderSir Keir Starmer
Preceded byEd Miliband[b]
Succeeded byKevin Hollinrake
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
In office
6 April 2020 – 29 November 2021
LeaderSir Keir Starmer
Preceded byMargaret Greenwood
Succeeded byJonathan Ashworth
Junior shadow portfolios
2013–2020
Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury
In office
8 October 2016 – 6 April 2020
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byRichard Burgon
Succeeded byPat McFadden
Shadow Minister for Rail
In office
14 September 2015 – 6 January 2016
LeaderJeremy Corbyn
Preceded byLilian Greenwood
Succeeded byAndy McDonald
Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change
In office
7 October 2013 – 18 September 2015
LeaderEd Miliband
Member of Parliament
for Stalybridge and Hyde
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded byJames Purnell
Majority8,539 (22.9%)
Member of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council for Longdendale
In office
4 May 2007 – 5 May 2011
Preceded byPeter Bibby
Succeeded byGillian Peet
Personal details
Born (1980-08-28) 28 August 1980 (age 44)
Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, England
Political partyLabour Co-op
SpouseClaire Johnston
Children4
Residence(s)Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, England
Alma materUniversity of Manchester
BPP Law School
ProfessionSolicitor
WebsiteOfficial website
Jonathan Reynolds's voice
Reynolds on the March 2017 United Kingdom budget
Recorded 14 March 2017

Jonathan Neil Reynolds (born 28 August 1980) is a British politician who has served as Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade since July 2024.[1] A member of the Labour and Co-operative parties, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stalybridge and Hyde since 2010.[2][3]

Reynolds served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition and a Shadow Energy and Climate Change Minister from 2013 to 2015. He was a Shadow Transport Minister from 2015 to 2016 and a Shadow Treasury Minister from 2016 until 2020. He was Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2020 to 2021, and has been a front bench representative on the Labour National Executive Committee since 2020.[4]

Early life and career

[edit]

Jonathan Reynolds was born on 28 August 1980 in Houghton-le-Spring in County Durham to Keith and Judith Reynolds. He moved to Manchester in 1998, studying Politics and Modern History at the University of Manchester and BPP Law School (Manchester). After leaving university Reynolds worked for the council and (former MP) James Purnell, before beginning training as a solicitor. Reynolds served on Labour's National Executive Committee from 2003 to 2005.[5] In 2007, he was elected to Tameside Council as the councillor for the Longdendale ward.[6]

Reynolds worked for four years as a political assistant for the previous Stalybridge and Hyde MP James Purnell and was selected to replace Purnell after a controversial selection process.[7] Reynolds is a member of the Co-operative Party and Unite the Union.[8]

Parliamentary career

[edit]

At the 2010 general election, Reynolds was elected as MP for Stalybridge and Hyde with 39.6% of the vote and a majority of 2,744.[9][10] In 2011 Reynolds stood down as a councillor. Once elected as an MP he did not claim Councillor Allowances.[11] In July 2013, Reynolds publicly called for the resignation of Tameside Hospital's Chief Executive, Christine Green.[12]

During his campaign, Reynolds focused on local issues such as the redevelopment of town centres, particularly Stalybridge, the Mottram-Tintwistle Bypass, the need for more primary school places in Hyde, and improved rail links in his constituency.[13][14] His commitment to addressing these local concerns resonated with voters and helped him secure the seat. He also supported improvements Northern Hub rail and also opposed policing cuts in his constituency.[15]

Miliband shadow cabinet

[edit]

Under Ed Miliband, Reynolds was appointed Shadow Justice and Constitutional Affairs Whip.[16] He was later appointed Miliband's Parliamentary Private Secretary[17] and Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change. As Shadow Energy Minister, he focused on fuel poverty, energy efficiency, and solar energy.[18] At the 2015 general election, Reynolds was re-elected as MP for Stalybridge and Hyde with an increased vote share of 45% and an increased majority of 6,686.[19][20]

Corbyn shadow cabinet

[edit]

After Jeremy Corbyn was elected to the leadership of the Labour Party in September 2015, Reynolds was made a Shadow Minister for Transport with responsibility for rail.[21][22] He resigned the position following Jeremy Corbyn's January 2016 reshuffle, saying he felt he could "best serve the party as a backbencher" and expressing his support for the sacked Pat McFadden.[21] He supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour leadership election.[23] Following the re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party, he was re-appointed to the shadow front bench as Shadow City Minister.[24]

In December 2015, Reynolds introduced a Private Member's Bill which would have changed UK general elections from first-past-the-post to the additional-member system.[25] Reynolds was appointed a member of the BIS Select Committee in 2016.[26] He questioned Mike Ashley during the committee's inquiry into working practices at Sports Direct.[27] In June 2016, Reynolds argued the Labour Party had not developed a credible "alternative economic model".[28] He has argued in favour of an industrial policy and reforms to UK equity markets.[29]

In his time as Shadow City Minister Reynolds spoke in support of a Brexit deal which is favourable to financial services.[30] City A.M. Editor Christian May described him in November 2016 as "popular in the Square Mile and at home in the brief".[31] At the snap 2017 general election, Reynolds was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 57.2% and an increased majority of 8,084.[32][33] Reynolds is Chair of Christians on the Left,[34] and also a vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel.[35][36] Reynolds has identified as a Christian socialist.[37]

At the 2019 general election, Reynolds was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 44.7% and a decreased majority of 2,946.[38] Reynolds attended the 2024 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.[39] In January 2024, Reynolds was re-selected as the Labour candidate for Stalybridge and Hyde at the 2024 general election.[40]

Starmer shadow cabinet

[edit]

Following the 2020 Labour Party leadership election, Keir Starmer appointed Reynolds as the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.[41]

Reynolds addressed the failings of the Universal Credit system, which he argued did not adequately support vulnerable people while calling for reforming legacy benefits and improving the overall welfare system to ensure fair and dignified support for all recipients. He frequently called for an emergency budget to tackle the immediate economic impacts of the pandemic and focusing on the need for long-term planning in pensions and social security.[42][43]

In September 2023, after a shadow cabinet reshuffle, he was appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade.[44][45]

Reynolds advocated for a balanced approach to the UK-EU relationship since the Brexit referendum. He said that Labour would not seek to rejoin the EU’s single market or customs union, focusing instead on achieving a more favourable trade deal with the EU without reopening Brexit debates. He also said that he believed that political stability and good-faith negotiations were crucial for enhancing the trading relationship with the EU, aiming for practical improvements such as mutual recognition of professional qualifications and easier inter-company transfers.[46]

Reynolds also supported an industrial strategy inspired by Bidenomics, focusing on re-industrialising and decarbonising the economy through strategic investments and regulatory changes which aimed to align domestic industrial policy with foreign trade policy, ensuring that the economic benefits of green transitions would be felt by British workers.[47]

Reynolds focused on revitalising the country’s industrial strategy and addressing the economic challenges post-Brexit. Reynolds initiative was the launch of Labour’s industrial strategy, which aimed to tackle issues such as supply chain disruptions and workforce skills shortages, with an emphasis on delivering clean power and reducing carbon dependency by 2030 and leveraging for the launch of a state-owned energy company.[48][49] Reynolds was a staunch advocate for the Green Prosperity Plan, which aimed to create a million new jobs through green investment which would guarantee economic benefits by achieving net zero emissions, including reduced energy costs and new jobs.[50][51]

Reynolds was vocal about the inadequacies of government policy regarding energy regulation and criticised the government’s particularly handling of prepayment meter installations that adversely affected vulnerable customers. He proposed more stringent policies and better support for small businesses facing high energy costs. His relationship with key Labour frontbenchers, such as Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves and advocacy for green energy underscored Labour’s commitment to creating a green economy.[50]

Secretary of State for Business and Trade (2024–present)

[edit]

Appointment

[edit]

At the 2024 general election, Reynolds was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 43.8% and an increased majority of 8,539.[52][53]

After the Labour Party’s landslide victory in the general election, Reynolds was appointed as Secretary of State for Business and Trade and President of the Board of Trade by the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the ensuing formation of the new government.[54][55][56] In one of his first statements as Business Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds ruled out moving to ID cards, seemingly contradicting a previous statement where he left the option open. While the context was crime, this has been interpreted as setting out a traditionalist, anti-technology stance and has been contrasted with Sir Tony Blair's call to embrace modern technology in the interests of economic growth, including digital ID cards.[57][58] Reynolds was sworn into the Privy Council on 10 July 2024, entitling him to be styled "The Right Honourable" for life.[59]

Worker's rights

[edit]

Reynolds said that flexing work laws could reduce regional inequality and increase productivity as he criticised the previous Conservative government for “declaring war on people working from home”. He also expressed support for increasing the minimum wage, plans to ban zero-hours contracts, end policies of fire and re-hire as part of its Employment Rights Bill, which was unveiled in July’s King’s Speech.[60][61] On 19 September, Reynolds heavily criticised Amazon after it ordered employees back into office five days per week and defended employers who allowed workers to work from home, which included staff in his own government department. Reynolds insisted that workers be judged “by their output, not whether they are sat at a desk”.[62] In an interview with The Times, Reynolds attacked the previous government and former ministers for their "bizarre approach towards working from home and "declaring war" on who did not returned to office.[63]

Investment policy

[edit]

In an article to The Guardian, Reynolds said that plans will be put in place for opening new markets extending growth internationally for Britain by removing regressive business rates, time late payments for small businesses and position major institutions under the supervision of a new National Wealth Fund, which would invest in new green industries.Reynolds also affirmed that the government will be working alongside multination companies, regional councils, devolved governments and trade unions to "build a more resilient economy" with plans to transition Britain to clean energy by 2030.[64] Following the controversial decision to scarp the winter fuel allowance from pensioners, Reynolds said that the government had "no choice" due to a £22 billion black hole in public finances and urged Labour MPs to back the issue.[65] Reynolds alongside Douglas Alexander visited Saudi Arabia to meet officials on a new trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh which included United Arab Emirates. It came as a part of the government's attempts to boost economic growth and to drive investment within the country with Reynolds saying that “economic growth is this government’s driving mission and boosting trade and investment with some of the world’s biggest economies is crucial to that.” [66][67]

According to the Financial Times, Reynolds said that he was "sick" of losing potential investment opportunities to France and Spain. Reynolds stated that he would initiate plans on "how Britain intends to sell itself to the world" that would be presented before a international investment summit on 14 October with an "industrial strategy" that will draw new funds. Reynolds said that he would announce the next chair of the Global Council and that he would be working with “high calibre set of people”. Reynolds also acknowledged multiple that would needed to be managed despite generating progress with the collapse of the shipbuilding giant Harland & Wolff, the Grangemouth job deprivation and an "emergency situation" at British steel.[68]

Personal life

[edit]

Reynolds lives in Stalybridge in Greater Manchester.[69] He has four children, three with his wife Claire Johnston and one from a previous relationship; his eldest son is autistic.[70] Outside politics, his interests include supporting Sunderland A.F.C., films and gardening.[71][72]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ As Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy until 4 September 2023
  2. ^ As Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: July 2024". GOV.UK. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Stalybridge and Hyde result". Manchester Evening News. 7 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Addleshaws trainee quits firm after becoming Labour MP". Centaur Media plc. The Lawyer. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010. Jonathan Reynolds was returned for the solidly Labour Stalybridge and Hyde constituency on the edge of Manchester with a majority of 2,700.
  4. ^ "Jonathan Reynolds – UK Parliament". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Parliaments News - BBC News". BBC News. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council – Councillors for the Ward of Longdendale". tameside.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 24 May 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  7. ^ "Powerbrokers fight for heart and soul of Labour Party as union row escalates"[dead link], The Times, 17 March 2010; accessed 16 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Labour List". Politics. Labour List. 14 April 2010. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ^ "BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Stalybridge & Hyde". news.bbc.co.uk.
  11. ^ "TMBC Member Allowances 2011". Archived from the original on 3 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Blog: Tameside Hospital moving forward". Jonathan Reynolds. 5 July 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  13. ^ "High Court rejects bid to halt Mottram Bypass". Not Really Here Group. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  14. ^ Carter, Gary (29 January 2022). "COLUMN: Jonathan Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, on working with children and schools". Tameside Correspondent. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  15. ^ "MP visits site that will power the north's railway revolution". Network Rail Media Centre. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  16. ^ Deerin, Chris (11 October 2010). "Shadow cabinet: junior appointments in full". Newstatesman.com. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Ed Miliband gets a new PPS". LabourList. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  18. ^ Lucy Woods (12 November 2014). "Labour continues energy reforms with energy efficiency priority". Clean Energy News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Stalybridge & Hyde". BBC News. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  21. ^ a b "Shadow Rail Minister Quits After Reshuffle". Sky News. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  22. ^ Reynolds, Jonathan (17 September 2015). "Labour's Moderates Need to Understand Jeremy Corbyn". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  23. ^ Smith, Mikey; Bloom, Dan (20 July 2016). "Which MPs are nominating Owen Smith in the Labour leadership contest?". Mirror. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has named BIS committee member Jonathan Reynolds as his new shadow City minister, filling a role left vacant by the promotion of Richard Burgon to shadow justice minister | City A.M". City A.M. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  25. ^ "Jonathan Reynolds MP tried to introduce proportional representation". Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  26. ^ "Jonathan Reynolds – UK Parliament". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  27. ^ Wright, Ben (7 June 2016). "PR genius or weak boss? Will the real Mike Ashley please stand up". The Telegraph. Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  28. ^ Deerin, Chris (4 January 2016). "If we want to build a new economy, we have to recognise not everyone can work for the NHS". Newstatesman.com. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  29. ^ Deerin, Chris (23 August 2016). "Want an economy that works for everyone? Here's how you get it". Newstatesman.com. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  30. ^ "Leaving the EU: Financial Services – Hansard Online". Hansard.parliament.uk. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  31. ^ "Editor's notes: Still in shock over Brexit? Get a grip | City A.M". City A.M. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  32. ^ "Stalybridge and Hyde parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  33. ^ "Election Results: How did my constituency vote?". Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  34. ^ "Chair". Christians on the Left. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  35. ^ "LFI Supporters In Parliament". Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  36. ^ Harpin, Lee (7 August 2019). "Dame Louise Ellman becomes new Labour Friends of Israel chair". Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  37. ^ Sherwood, Harriet (28 May 2024). "Is Starmer really a socialist and what will happen if Labour wins election?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  38. ^ "Stalybridge and Hyde parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  39. ^ Dawson, Bethany (17 January 2024). "How UK Labour stopped worrying and learned to love Davos". Politico. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Re-Selection Thanks". Jonathan Reynolds. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  41. ^ "Labour: Keir Starmer unveils full shadow cabinet line-up". 9 April 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  42. ^ Gray, Jack (4 June 2020). "Jonathan Reynolds named as Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary". Pensions Age Magazine. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  43. ^ Ltd, DG Publishing. "Jonathan Reynolds named shadow pensions secretary". www.pensions-expert.com. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  44. ^ Cunliffe, Rachel (4 September 2023). "Keir Starmer's reshuffle was politically ruthless". New Statesman. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  45. ^ "Labour announces new shadow business and trade secretary in cabinet reshuffle". www.export.org.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  46. ^ "Changes to UK-EU relationship would not reopen Brexit wounds, says Reynolds". www.shropshirestar.com. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  47. ^ "UK Labour's shift toward Bidenomics is complete". POLITICO. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  48. ^ "Meet Johnathon Reynolds – Labour's new shadow trade and business secretary". www.export.org.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  49. ^ "Labour announces new shadow business and trade secretary in cabinet reshuffle". www.export.org.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  50. ^ a b "The Jonathan Reynolds interview: 'Vulnerability could and should be a universal standard'". Politics Home. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  51. ^ Ferber, Alona (25 September 2023). "Jonathan Reynolds: "Labour governments shouldn't be judged by how much they spend"". New Statesman. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  52. ^ "General Election - Thursday, 4th July, 2024". Tameside Metropolitan Borough. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  53. ^ "Stalybridge and Hyde results". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  54. ^ "Secretary of State for Business and Trade - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  55. ^ "Jonathan Reynolds MP". GOV.UK. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  56. ^ Matters, Business (5 July 2024). "Jonathan Reynolds appointed as new business minister amid calls for SME support". Business Matters. Retrieved 6 July 2024. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  57. ^ "Keir Starmer must embrace the 'game-changer' of artificial intelligence, says Tony Blair". Independent. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  58. ^ "Business Secretary flip-flops on digital ID cards after refusing to rule them out". Telegraph. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  59. ^ "List of Business – 10 July 2024" (PDF). Privy Council Office. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  60. ^ "Flexible working laws could reduce regional inequality, Business Secretary says". Knutsford Guardian. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  61. ^ "Flexible working laws could reduce regional inequality, Business Secretary says". The Independent. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  62. ^ Field, Matthew (19 September 2024). "Amazon criticised by Business Secretary for ordering staff back to the office". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  63. ^ Faragher, Jo (17 September 2024). "Business secretary defends Employment Rights Bill". Personnel Today. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  64. ^ Reynolds, Jonathan (25 August 2024). "Greater trading options are crucial to the rebuilding of the country". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  65. ^ Hall, Rachel; Crerar, Pippa (10 September 2024). "UK government has 'no choice' but to cut winter fuel payment, says minister". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  66. ^ Perozo, Eugenia (16 September 2024). "UK Trade Secretary seeking investment from the Gulf". Investment Monitor. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  67. ^ "British ministers head to Gulf for talks on new trade deal". Arab News. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  68. ^ Parker, George (21 September 2024). "UK to resurrect 'industrial strategy' in bid for global funds, says Reynolds". Financial Times. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  69. ^ "Jonathan Reynolds // Stalybridge and Hyde Labour". Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  70. ^ "Westminster Needs Its Men to Talk About Why Being a Dad Is a Big Part of Their Life | HuffPost UK". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  71. ^ "Jonathan Reynolds MP talks about Autism Awareness". YouTube. 27 July 2010. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  72. ^ "Sunderland AFC Ladies' WSL snub set to be raised in Parliament". www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jonathan Reynolds (politician).
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde
2010–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change
2013–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Minister for Rail
2015–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury
2016–2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
2020–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
2021–2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of State for Business and Trade
2024–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Young Labour representative
on the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party
2003–2007 		Succeeded by
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