John Reid (UK politician)

The Right Honourable Dr. John Reid (born May 8, 1947 in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland to a mixed-religion couple) is a British politician, MP for Airdrie and Shotts, and Secretary of State for Defence.

Related Topics:
The Right Honourable - May 8 - 1947 - Bellshill - North Lanarkshire - Scotland - British - Politician - MP - Airdrie and Shotts - Secretary of State for Defence

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Reid was educated at St. Patrick's High School in Coatbridge, before attending the University of Stirling, receiving 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 in 1987 as MP for the "Motherwell North" constituency (later renamed as "Hamilton North and Bellshill").

Related Topics:
University of Stirling - History - Economic history - 1987

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

Related Topics:
1969 - 1998 - 2002

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Reid is a senior member of the Labour Party, and has held several different Cabinet positions: Secretary of State for Scotland, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (the first Catholic to hold the position), Minister Without Portfolio (Labour Party Chairman), Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council. On June 12, 2003 he was appointed Health Secretary following the resignation of Alan Milburn. It was reported by Private Eye that his reaction to being appointed was "Oh fuck, not health": the publication since then has regularly appended the phrase "oh fuck, not health" to any mention of his name.

Related Topics:
Secretary of State for Scotland - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland - Catholic - Minister Without Portfolio - Leader of the House of Commons - Lord President of the Council - June 12 - 2003 - Alan Milburn - Private Eye

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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 appointed to the cabinet position of Secretary of State for Defence.

Related Topics:
2005 - General Election - Secretary of State for Defence

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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"). Reid has a reputation as a tough fighter, and a shrewd negotiator; he is also regarded as one of the most intelligent MPs in the House.

Related Topics:
Communist Party of Great Britain - Communist - Santa Claus

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An MP since 1987, his seat was abolished in boundary changes. Reid is a Catholic, and there was much speculation that he would become MP for the predominantly Catholic and rock-solid Labour seat of Glasgow East in the UK 2005 general election, however he was nominated for the seat of Airdrie and Shotts, a predominantly Protestant area, which he took with 59% of the vote, the result of a Scottish political swing to Labour from the Scottish National Party.

Related Topics:
1987 - Catholic - Airdrie and Shotts

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Recently, he caused controversy through calling BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman a "West London wanker", after a remark about John Reid being "an attack dog".

Related Topics:
BBC - Newsnight - Jeremy Paxman

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He regards New Labour as a natural development of Bevanism. He is also one of a number of candidates likely to run as a "Stop Brown" candidate when Tony Blair relinquishes his leadership of the Labour Party.

Related Topics:
New Labour - Bevanism - Tony Blair

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