Jonathan Reynolds

Johnathan Reynolds was elected to Parliament in 2010. A former member of the executive team at his student’s Union, Reynolds’ career has been consistently politics-focussed. After graduating, Reynolds was an assistant to the Labour group on Stockport Council, he later became parliamentary assistant to James Purnell, and then was elected to Labour’s National Executive Committee. In 2007 Reynolds was elected as a Labour councillor on Tameside Council and enrolled in law school. He went on to become a solicitor with Addleshaw Goddard LLP. When, in 2010, Purnell announced he was to stand down as the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, Reynolds was selected as the Labour candidate for the seat. He was elected with a majority of 2,744 – the area’s closest election result since 1970. Following his election, Reynolds joined the science and technology committee and the finance and services committee. He served under Ed Miliband as assistant whip from 2010-2011, followed by shadow energy minister from 2013-2015. Reynolds resigned from the shadow cabinet after Jeremy Corbyn became leader in 2015, admitting that he and Corbyn were from “opposite sides” of the party. After being asked to reconsider his decision he accepted the role of shadow transport minister, stating that Labour has “no option but to hold together”. He held the position of shadow economic secretary to the Treasury from 2016-2020. In April 2020, Kier Starmer appointed Reynolds to the role of Shadow secretary of state for work and pensions. Outside of Parliament, Reynolds says his favourite thing to do is walking his dogs, who are named Clinton and Kennedy.