Chris Bryant facts for kids
Sir Christopher John Bryant (born 11 January 1962) is a British politician. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Rhondda and Ogmore since 2024, and before that, for Rhondda since 2001. He is a member of the Labour Party. Since 2024, he has served as the Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms and Minister of State for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism.
Bryant was born in Cardiff, Wales. He went to Cheltenham College and then studied English at Mansfield College, Oxford. After getting another degree in theology, he worked as a Church of England priest. He also had jobs at the BBC and a charity called Common Purpose. He was first elected as an MP for Rhondda in the 2001 general election.
He has held important roles in government, including Deputy Leader of the House of Commons from 2008 to 2009. He was also a Minister for Europe from 2009 to 2010. Later, he served in the Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Culture Secretary in 2015 and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016.
Quick facts for kids
Sir Chris Bryant
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 8 July 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Julia Lopez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister of State for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 8 July 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Julia Lopez (Creative Industries and Tourism) The Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Arts) |
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| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Europe and Asia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 13 October 2009 – 11 May 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | The Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | David Lidington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 9 June 2009 – 11 May 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Gillian Merron | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Henry Bellingham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy Leader of the House of Commons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 5 October 2008 – 9 June 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Helen Goodman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Barbara Keeley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of Parliament for Rhondda and Ogmore Rhondda (2001–2024) |
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| Assumed office 7 June 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Allan Rogers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Majority | 7,790 (21.8%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
Christopher John Bryant
11 January 1962 Cardiff, Wales |
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| Political party | Labour (1986–present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations |
Conservative (before 1986) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residences | Porth, Rhondda, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Cheltenham College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Mansfield College, Oxford (BA) Ripon College Cuddesdon |
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Contents
Early Life and Education
Chris Bryant was born on 11 January 1962 in Cardiff, Wales. His mother was Scottish, and his father was Welsh. He grew up in Cardiff, in Spain for five years during the 1960s, and in Cheltenham, England. Because he lived in Spain, he can speak Spanish very well.
He went to Cheltenham College, which is an independent school for boys. Then, he studied English at Mansfield College, Oxford.
From Conservative to Labour
When he was a student, Chris Bryant was a member of the Conservative Party. He even held a position in the Oxford University Conservative Association. However, after leaving Oxford in 1986, he decided to join the Labour Party.
Becoming a Priest
After finishing his first degree, Bryant began training to become a priest in the Church of England. He studied at Ripon College Cuddesdon in Oxfordshire, where he earned another degree in theology.
He became a deacon in 1986 and a priest in 1987. He worked as a curate in High Wycombe from 1986 to 1989. After that, he was a Youth Chaplain in Peterborough and also traveled in Latin America.
In 1991, Bryant decided to leave his role as a priest. He chose to change his career path at that time.
Early Political Career
After leaving the priesthood in 1991, Chris Bryant started working in politics. He became an election agent for the Labour Party in Holborn and St Pancras. He helped Frank Dobson win his seat in the 1992 general election.
From 1993, he worked as a Local Government Officer for the Labour Party. He lived in Hackney and was elected to Hackney Borough Council in 1993. He served as a councillor until 1998. He also became the Chairman of the Christian Socialist Movement. From 1994 to 1996, he was the London manager for the charity Common Purpose.
In 1996, Bryant became a full-time author. He wrote biographies about important figures like Stafford Cripps and Glenda Jackson.
Before he was elected to Parliament in 2001, Bryant worked for the BBC. From 1998, he was the Head of European Affairs for the BBC.
Parliamentary Career
In the 1997 general election, Chris Bryant was a Labour candidate for Wycombe. He came in second place.
Becoming an MP for Rhondda
In 2000, Bryant was chosen to be the Labour candidate for the Rhondda area in South Wales. This was a very safe Labour seat. Many people were surprised by his selection. He was elected as the MP for Rhondda in the 2001 general election. He won with a large majority of 16,047 votes.
In 2003, Bryant voted for the UK to take part in the Iraq war. He is a member of both the Labour Friends of Israel and Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East groups.
From 2004 to 2007, Bryant was the chairman of the Labour Movement for Europe. He also supports the principles of the Henry Jackson Society.
In the 2005 general election, Bryant was re-elected as MP for Rhondda. He still had a strong majority of 16,242 votes.
Roles in Government and Opposition
On 5 September 2006, Chris Bryant and another MP, Siôn Simon, organized a letter. This letter was signed by 15 Labour MPs who wanted Tony Blair to resign as Prime Minister.
In 2008, during a government reshuffle by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Bryant was promoted. He became the Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. In June 2009, he moved to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. There, he served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. On 13 October 2009, he was also made Minister for Europe.
After the Labour Party lost the 2010 general election, Bryant served in the Shadow Cabinet. He was the Shadow Culture Secretary in 2015 and the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016. He later resigned from this role.
See also
In Spanish: Chris Bryant para niños
