37 Facts About Jonathan Reynolds

Jonathan Reynolds was a Shadow Transport Minister from 2015 to 2016 and a Shadow Treasury Minister from 2016 until 2020.

Jonathan Reynolds 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.

Jonathan Reynolds was born on 28 August 1980 in Houghton-le-Spring in County Durham to Keith and Judith Reynolds.

Jonathan Reynolds was educated at Houghton Kepier Comprehensive School and Sunderland City College.

Jonathan Reynolds moved to Manchester in 1998, studying politics and modern history at the University of Manchester, and then he studied at BPP Law School in Manchester.

Jonathan 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.

Jonathan Reynolds is a member of the Co-operative Party and Unite the Union.

In July 2013, Jonathan Reynolds publicly called for the resignation of Tameside Hospital's Chief Executive, Christine Green.

Jonathan Reynolds supported improvements Northern Hub rail and opposed policing cuts in his constituency.

Under Ed Miliband, Jonathan Reynolds was appointed Shadow Justice and Constitutional Affairs Whip.

Jonathan Reynolds was later appointed Miliband's Parliamentary Private Secretary and Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change.

Jonathan Reynolds 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.

Jonathan Reynolds supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour leadership election.

In December 2015, Jonathan Reynolds introduced a Private Member's Bill which would have changed UK general elections from first-past-the-post to the additional-member system.

Jonathan Reynolds was appointed a member of the BIS Select Committee in 2016.

Jonathan Reynolds questioned Mike Ashley during the committee's inquiry into working practices at Sports Direct.

In June 2016, Jonathan Reynolds argued the Labour Party had not developed a credible "alternative economic model".

Jonathan Reynolds has argued in favour of an industrial policy and reforms to UK equity markets.

Jonathan Reynolds is Chair of Christians on the Left, and a vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel.

Jonathan Reynolds attended the 2024 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

In January 2024, Jonathan Reynolds was re-selected as the Labour candidate for Stalybridge and Hyde at the 2024 general election.

Jonathan 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.

Jonathan Reynolds 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.

Jonathan Reynolds advocated for a balanced approach to the UK-EU relationship since the Brexit referendum.

Jonathan Reynolds 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.

Jonathan Reynolds 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.

Jonathan Reynolds 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.

Jonathan Reynolds focused on revitalising the country's industrial strategy and addressing the economic challenges post-Brexit.

Jonathan 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.

Jonathan 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.

Jonathan 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.

Jonathan Reynolds proposed more stringent policies and better support for small businesses facing high energy costs.

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.

Jonathan Reynolds was sworn into the Privy Council on 10 July 2024, entitling him to be styled "The Right Honourable" for life.

Jonathan Reynolds 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.

In February 2025, Jonathan Reynolds faced calls to resign over accusations that he falsely claimed to be a solicitor, as his website and LinkedIn profile had claimed that he worked as a solicitor before becoming an MP, and in April 2014, he had told the House of Commons "Before the last election, I worked as a solicitor in Manchester city centre".

Jonathan Reynolds has four children, three with his wife Claire and one from a previous relationship; his eldest son is autistic.