Peter Kyle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Kyle
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Secretary of State for Business and Trade President of the Board of Trade |
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| Assumed office 5 September 2025 |
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| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Reynolds |
| Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology | |
| In office 5 July 2024 – 5 September 2025 |
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| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Michelle Donelan |
| Succeeded by | Liz Kendall |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology | |
| In office 4 September 2023 – 5 July 2024 |
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| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Griffith |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | |
| In office 29 November 2021 – 4 September 2023 |
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| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Louise Haigh |
| Succeeded by | Hilary Benn |
| Shadow Minister for Schools | |
| In office 14 May 2021 – 29 November 2021 |
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| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Wes Streeting |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Morgan |
| Shadow Minister for Victims and Youth Justice | |
| In office 9 April 2020 – 14 May 2021 |
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| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Anna McMorrin |
| Member of Parliament for Hove and Portslade Hove (2015–2024) |
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| Assumed office 7 May 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Weatherley |
| Majority | 19,881 (38.1%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peter John Kyle
9 September 1970 West Sussex, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Education | Felpham Comprehensive School, West Sussex |
| Alma mater | University of Sussex |
| Signature |  |
| Scientific career | |
| Thesis | Building capacity for community economic development: the case of the Kat river valley, South Africa (2004) |
Peter Kyle, born on 9 September 1970, is a British politician. Since September 2025, he has been a government minister, serving as the Secretary of State for Business and Trade. Before this, from July 2024 to September 2025, he was the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. He is a member of the Labour Party and has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hove and Portslade (and previously Hove) since 2015. As an MP, he represents the people of his local area in the UK Parliament. Before becoming a government minister, he held important roles in the opposition, such as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary and Shadow Minister for Schools.
Peter Kyle's Early Life and Work
Peter Kyle was born in West Sussex, England, on 9 September 1970. He went to Felpham Comprehensive School. During his school years, he learned that he had dyslexia, which meant he found reading and writing more challenging. He left school without many qualifications.
When he was 25, Peter Kyle was accepted into the University of Sussex. He studied geography, international development, and environmental studies. Later, he earned a doctorate in community development, which is about helping communities grow and improve.
After university, Peter worked as an aid worker. He helped a charity called Children on the Edge in places like Eastern Europe and the Balkans. He worked to support young people affected by conflicts and helped set up an orphanage in Romania.
In 2006, he became a special adviser in the Cabinet Office. This role involved advising the government on how to help people who were struggling or felt left out of society. From 2007 to 2013, he was a leader at a group called the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO). In 2013, he became the head of a new charity, Working for Youth, which focused on helping young people find jobs.
Peter Kyle's Time in Parliament
In the 2015 general election, Peter Kyle was chosen by voters to be the MP for Hove. He represents his local area in the UK Parliament.
He took part in leadership elections within the Labour Party. In 2015, he supported Liz Kendall, and in 2016, he supported Owen Smith.
In December 2015, Peter Kyle voted for the UK to carry out air strikes against a group called Islamic State in Syria. This was a difficult decision, and he faced strong disagreement from some people who were against the war. He emphasized the importance of respecting different viewpoints on such serious matters.
From 2016 to 2020, he was part of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee. This committee checks how government departments and businesses are working. In 2016, he questioned Mike Ashley, the boss of Sports Direct, about how his company treated its workers.
Peter Kyle supported staying in the European Union during the 2016 Brexit vote. He later voted for an amendment that would have kept the UK closely linked to Europe's economy, even though his party's leaders had a different view.
He has strongly supported apprenticeships, which are programs that combine work and training. In 2016, he aimed to create many new apprenticeships in his local area.
Peter Kyle was re-elected as MP for Hove in the 2017 and 2019 general elections.
In 2018, he suggested that the voting age should be lowered to 16. He tried to pass a law for this, but it did not succeed.
In 2019, he worked with another MP, Phil Wilson, on an amendment to the Brexit deal. Their idea was to let the public vote again on the final Brexit agreement. This amendment did not pass, but it showed his commitment to giving people a say.
After the 2019 election, Peter Kyle encouraged the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to step down. He believed the party's election loss was due to issues with leadership.
He has been a vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel. He has also spoken out against discrimination and worked to ensure that all communities feel safe and respected within the Labour Party. He participated in a march against antisemitism in London in November 2023, alongside other leaders, to show his support for the Jewish community. He has also condemned violence and called for peaceful solutions in international conflicts.
In 2022, he supported the Labour Party's decision to accept Brexit and focus on building a positive future for Britain outside the European Union.
Due to changes in electoral boundaries, his constituency became Hove and Portslade. He was re-elected as MP for this new area in the 2024 general election. He is also a member of the Fabian Society, a group that promotes social reform.
Helping Victims and Young People
In April 2020, Peter Kyle became the Shadow Minister for Victims and Youth Justice. In this role, he worked on issues affecting victims of crime and young people in the justice system. He campaigned to protect vulnerable people from unfair housing practices.
In February 2021, he proposed a new law to Parliament to help victims. This law aimed to:
- Make sure victims know their rights at the same time as those accused of crimes.
- Create a list of people in the justice system who do not respect victims' rights.
- Give victims of ongoing anti-social behaviour the same rights as victims of other crimes.
- Make the Victims' Commissioner (a person who speaks up for victims) independent from the government.
Supporting Schools
In May 2021, Peter Kyle became the Shadow Minister for Schools. In this role, he focused on education policies and supporting schools across the country.
Working for Northern Ireland
In November 2021, he was appointed Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary. This meant he was the main spokesperson for the Labour Party on issues related to Northern Ireland.
Leading on Science and Technology
Peter Kyle was appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology in September 2023.
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In October 2023, he spoke about how a future Labour government would encourage the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to benefit everyone. He suggested making some rules for technology companies simpler. However, some trade unions worried about how this might affect workers' rights and profits.
In November 2023, Peter Kyle shared Labour's plans for stronger rules on AI research companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. These rules would require them to share more information and ensure user safety. He also suggested creating a 'Regulatory Innovation office' to make important decisions faster. He proposed a long-term budget for research and development to encourage investment. Another idea was a new group called 'Skills England' to help improve skills and training across the country.
In February 2024, he announced that Labour would require AI companies to share their test results with the government. This would help the government understand the risks and challenges of AI better. He also met with leaders from the United States government and major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Google, and Apple to discuss AI.
Peter Kyle believes that AI can greatly improve public services, including the National Health Service and the British education system. He has shared how he believes AI tools could help detect serious illnesses earlier, showing his personal commitment to using technology for good.
A Government Minister for Science and Technology
After the Labour Party won the 2024 general election, Peter Kyle became a government minister. In July 2024, he was appointed Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. In this role, he was responsible for leading the government's work on science, new technologies, and making sure the UK stays at the forefront of innovation.
Online Safety Act
As Secretary of State, he was also responsible for putting into action the Online Safety Act 2023. This law was created to make the internet a safer place, especially for children. There were discussions about how the Act would work and whether it might affect people's freedom to express themselves online. Peter Kyle strongly defended the Act, saying it was essential for protecting children.
Leading on Business and Trade
In September 2025, Peter Kyle took on a new role as Secretary of State for Business and Trade. In this position, he is responsible for supporting businesses, promoting trade, and helping the UK economy grow. He also holds the title of President of the Board of Trade.
Peter Kyle's Personal Life
From 2016 to 2017, Peter Kyle was the chair of governors at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, helping to guide the school.
In 2012, Peter Kyle experienced significant personal losses. He was sworn into the Privy Council on 10 July 2024. This is a group of senior advisors to the King, and it means he can use the title "The Right Honourable" for life.
