The Rt Hon. Dr John Reid

Born	8 May 1947 Bellshill, North Lanarkshire
Office	Home Secretary
Term	May 5, 2006 – present
Predecessor	Charles Clarke
Successor	Incumbent
Constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
Majority	14,084 (42.5%)
Political party	Labour
Religion	Roman Catholic
Spouse	Carine Adler

John Reid (born 8 May 1947) is a British politician who is Home Secretary and Member of Parliament for the Scottish constituency of Airdrie and Shotts. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (816x530, 47 KB)John Reid MP. Answering questions at a Pentagon Briefing This image is a work of a U.S. military or Department of Defense employee, taken or made during the course of an employees official duties. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Bellshill is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, two miles north of Motherwell. ... North Lanarkshire (Siorrachd Lannraig a Tuath in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland. ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department, known as the Home Secretary, is the chief United Kingdom government minister responsible for law and order (except in Scotland). ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Rt Hon. ... // In politics The incumbent, in politics, is the current holder of a political office. ... Airdrie and Shotts is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The Labour Party has, since the early twentieth century, been the principal left wing political party in the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department, known as the Home Secretary, is the chief United Kingdom government minister responsible for law and order (except in Scotland). ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I 843  Area    - Total 78... Airdrie and Shotts is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ...

Background

Born in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, to mixed-denomination parents, Reid was educated at St. Patrick's High School in Coatbridge, attending the school at the same time as his Secretary of State for Scotland successor Helen Liddell, before attending the University of Stirling, gaining a bachelor's degree in history and a Ph.D in economic history. After graduation he worked as a research officer for the Labour Party and as a trade union organiser. He entered parliament at the 1987 general election as MP for the Motherwell North constituency. After boundary changes, he was returned at the 1997 election for the new constituency of Hamilton North and Bellshill. Bellshill is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, two miles north of Motherwell. ... North Lanarkshire (Siorrachd Lannraig a Tuath in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland. ... Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland approximately 10 miles east of Glasgow. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... The Right Honourable Helen Liddell (born December 6, 1950, in Coatbridge, Scotland) is a British politician, and was M.P. for Monklands East, then for Airdrie and Shotts from 1994 to 2005. ... Looking out over Airthrey Loch on the main campus of The University of Stirling Airthrey Loch frozen over on a snowy day The University of Stirling is a campus university created in 1967 and is based in a custom-built campus situated on a greenfield site in the outskirts of... For other senses of this word, see history (disambiguation). ... Economic history is the application of economic theories to historical study. ... The UK general election, 1987 was held on June 11, 1987 and was the third victory in a row for Margaret Thatcher and the Conservatives. ... Motherwell was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1974. ... The UK general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997. ... Hamilton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1997. ...

Reid was married to the late Cathie McGowan, with whom he had two sons, from 1969 until her death in 1998. In 2002 he married the Brazilian film director Carine Adler.

Reid gave up drinking in 1994. Then in 2003 he gave up his 60-a-day cigarette habit, citing health reasons.[1]

Political career

Reid is a senior member of the Labour Party, and as of May 8th 2006 has held eight Cabinet posts in seven years: Secretary of State for Scotland, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (the first Roman Catholic to hold the position)^[1], Minister Without Portfolio (Labour Party Chairman), Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council, Secretary of State for Health, Secretary of State for Defence and Home Secretary. It was reported by Private Eye that his reaction, on 12 June 2003, to being appointed Health Secretary following the resignation of Alan Milburn, was "Oh fuck, not health": the publication since then has regularly appended the phrase "oh fuck, not health" to any mention of his name. The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is the British cabinet minister who has responsibility for the government of Northern Ireland. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... A Minister without Portfolio is a government minister with no specific responsibilities. ... The Leader of the House of Commons is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Commons. ... The Office of Lord President of the Council is a British cabinet position, the holder of which acts as presiding officer of the Privy Council. ... Minister of Health redirects here. ... The Secretary of State for Defence is the senior United Kingdom government minister in charge of the Ministry of Defence. ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department, known as the Home Secretary, is the chief United Kingdom government minister responsible for law and order (except in Scotland). ... Private eye may mean: Look up Private eye on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Private Eye a fortnightly British satirical magazine-newspaper, edited by Ian Hislop (as of 2005) A private investigator, a private detective for hire (see also crime fiction and detective fiction) Private Eye, a song by Alkaline Trio... June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Rt Hon. ...

Other positions held include Minister of State for Defence (1997-1998) and Minister of State for Transport (1998-1999). Following the incumbent Labour Party's 2005 general election victory, he was moved as Secretary of State for Health to the position of Secretary of State for Defence, a move to a department Reid knew well. The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 and won by the Labour Party, led by Tony Blair. ...

An MP since 1987, his seat was abolished in boundary changes prior to the 2005 general election. Reid is a Roman Catholic, and there was much speculation that he would become MP for the predominantly Catholic and rock-solid Labour seat of Glasgow East. However, he was nominated instead for the seat of Airdrie and Shotts, a predominantly Protestant area, which he took with 59% of the vote. Reid, whose wife is Jewish, was an early member of Labour Friends of Israel.^[2] The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Glasgow East is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Airdrie and Shotts is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Labour Friends of Israel is a Westminister based pro-Israel lobby group working within the UK Labour Party. ...

Reid is a former member of the Communist Party of Great Britain (of which he has said: "I used to be a Communist. I used to believe in Santa Claus"^[3]); he regards New Labour as a natural development of Bevanism. More controversially, during the 1990s Bosnian War, Reid struck up a friendship with Serb rebel leader and later indicted war-criminal Radovan Karadžić; Reid has admitted that he spent three days at a luxury Geneva lakeside hotel as a guest of Karadžić in 1993. ^[4] The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was the largest communist party in the United Kingdom. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ... A common portrayal of Santa Claus. ... New Labour is an alternative name of the British political Labour Party. ... Bevanism was the ideological argument for the Bevanites, a movement on the centre left of the Labour Party in the late 1950s and led by Nye Bevan. ... Combatants Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Predominantly Bosniak) Army of Republika Srpska, Yugoslav Peoples Army, various paramilitary units from Serbia and Montenegro (Serbian) Croatian Defence Council, Croatian Army (Croatian) Commanders Alija Izetbegović (President of Bosnia and Herzegovina) Sefer Halilović (Army chief of staff 1992-1993) Rasim... Serbs (in the Serbian language Срби, Srbi) are a south Slavic people living chiefly in Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Radovan Karadžić Radovan Karadžić (Радован Караџић) (born June 19, 1945) is a former Bosnian Serb politician, poet and psychiatrist indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague. ... Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German: //, Italian: Ginevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland, and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). ...

Reid has a reputation as a tough fighter: he once caused controversy by calling BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman a "West London wanker", after Paxman introduced John Reid in an interview as "an all purpose attack dog" who "came out snarling and spent less time promoting Labour policy than trying to put the opposition into intensive care". A former director at the Department of Health also once criticised Reid's style of leadership, saying that "when John Reid came in we produced a series of major policy changes without consulting people, without even sharing them at draft stage... It’s not surprising, therefore, that [the NHS managers] didn’t feel the same level of ownership [of the policy changes]" ^[5]. Founded in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company Ltd (a privately owned company), subsequently Incorporated and nationalised in 1927 as The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC, also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world. ... Newsnight is a British daily news analysis, current affairs and politics programme broadcast between 22. ... Jeremy Paxman presents Newsnight on BBC Two. ...

Reid is also regarded as one of the most intelligent MPs in the House^{[citation needed]} and a possible 'Stop Brown' candidate[2] when Tony Blair relinquishes the Labour Party leadership. Reid has denied any such ambitions^[6], though colleague Frank Field MP that "John Reid would certainly be among those to challenge for [the leadership]"^[7]. Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the UK Civil Service, Leader of the UK Labour Party, and Member of the UK Parliament for the constituency of Sedgefield in North East England. ... The Right Honourable Frank Ernest Field (born July 16, 1942, London) is a British politician, and Labour MP for Birkenhead. ...

After speaking ahead of a conference on NATO modernisation in Germany on 4 February 2006, Reid asserted in a press interview that "no institution has the divine right to exist". ^[8] February 4 is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On 19 March 2006, in response to former interim Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi's claim that Iraq is in the grip of civil war, Reid said "Every single politician I have met here [in Iraq] from the prime minister to the president, the defence minister and indeed Iyad Allawi himself said to me there's an increase in the sectarian killing, but there's not a civil war and we will not allow a civil war to develop". March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Iyad Allawi Dr. Iyad Allawi (Arabic: ) (born 1945) is an Iraqi politician, and was the interim Prime Minister of Iraq prior to Iraqs 2005 legislative elections. ... A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight for political power or control of an area. ... Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. ... This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers, and should be edited to rectify this. ... Sectarianism is an adherence to a particular sect or party or denomination, it also usually involves a rejection of those not a member of ones sect. ...

On 29 April 2006, police found a small quantity (less than 1 gram) of cannabis resin in a guest room of his home^[9]. Reid denied all knowledge of the drug, and Strathclyde Police have stated that he is not under suspicion of having committed any offence. April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Species Cannabis indica Cannabis ruderalis Cannabis sativa Cannabis (drug) Hemp Hemp (disambiguation) Cannabis is a genus of flowering plant that includes one or more species. ... Strathclyde Park Strathclyde park is a large country park located in Strathclyde. ...

Reid was appointed Home Secretary on 5 May 2006, replacing Charles Clarke who was removed in the wake of a Home Office scandal involving the release of foreign national prisoners.^[1]. An early decision during his time at the Home Office was to move paedophiles living in hostels near to schools away from the areas.^[10] Reid also caused controversy in August 2006 by calling for the creation of an independent committee to impose a national annual limit on the number of immigrants entering the UK ^[11]. Critics claimed that Reid was "playing to the racist gallery" and compared his plans to Soviet-style central planning of the economy. ^[12] The Secretary of State for the Home Department, known as the Home Secretary, is the chief United Kingdom government minister responsible for law and order (except in Scotland). ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Rt Hon. ... The modern concept of Small Office and Home Office or SoHo , or Small or Home Office deals with the category of business which can be from 1 to 10 workers. ... Motto: Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Russian: Workers of the world, unite!) Anthem: The Internationale (1922-1944) Hymn of the Soviet Union (1944-1991) Capital Moscow Largest city Moscow Official language(s) None; Russian de facto Government Federation of Soviet Republics Establishment October Revolution  - Declared 30 December 1922   - Recognized 1...

References

1. ^ ^a b Profile: Dr John Reid (HTML). BBC News. Retrieved on 2006-05-05.
2. ^ "David Blunkett to return to the Cabinet in major reshuffle", The Daily Telegraph, 1 May 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-31.
3. ^ Profile: John Reid - The Blairite bruiser (HTML). The Independent. Retrieved on 2006-05-06.
4. ^ The operator (HTML). The Guardian. Retrieved on 2006-04-29.
5. ^ Catcalls, barracking and laughter force Hewitt to abandon speech. Guardian Unlimited (27 April 2006). Retrieved on 16 August 2006.
6. ^ Reid 'no ambition to lead Labour'. BBC News (17 May 2006). Retrieved on 18 June 2006.
7. ^ Brown 'will face PM challengers'. BBC News (12 May 2006). Retrieved on 16 August 2006.
8. ^ Future of Nato at risk, says Reid (HTML). BBC News. Retrieved on 2006-04-29.
9. ^ Cannabis found at John Reid home (HTML). BBC News. Retrieved on 2006-04-29.
10. ^ "Abusers moved from near schools", BBC News, 18 June 2006. URL accessed on 18 June 2006.
11. ^ "Reid calls for migration debate", BBC News, 6 August 2006.
12. ^ "Get a grip, Mr. Reid", Guardian Unlimited - Comment is free, 7 August 2006.

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ...

See also

• House of Commons
• Nye Bevan

The House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also includes the Sovereign and the House of Lords. ... A statue of Bevan in Cardiff. ...

External links

Wikisource has original works written by or about:

John Reid

• 10 Downing Street - Dr John Reid official biography
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: John Reid MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - John Reid MP
• John Reid — profile from BBC News Online, 17 October 2002
• The Operator - John Reid profile, The Guardian, March 2, 2002