Steve Reed (politician) Facts for Kids

Shadow portfolios

Shadow Secretary of State
2023–2024	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
2021–2023	Justice
2020–2021	Communities and Local Government
Shadow Minister
2019–2020	Children and Families
2016–2019	Civil Society
2015–2016	Local Government
2013–2015	Crime Prevention

Leader of Lambeth Council

In office
24 May 2006 – 29 November 2012

Preceded by

Peter Truesdale

Succeeded by

Lib Peck

Member of Lambeth Council
for Brixton Hill
Town Hall (1998–2002)

In office
7 May 1998 – 29 November 2012

Personal details

Born

Steven Mark Ward Reed

12 November 1963 (age 61)
St Albans, Hertfordshire, England

Political party

Labour Co-op

Alma mater

University of Sheffield

Steven Mark Ward Reed OBE is a British politician born on 12 November 1963. As of September 2025, he serves as the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Before this, he was the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2024 to 2025. He is a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 2012, representing the area of Streatham and Croydon North.

Who is Steve Reed?

Who is Steve Reed?

Steve Reed has held many important roles in British politics. He started in local government, leading a council in London. Later, he became a Member of Parliament. He has served in various government and opposition roles, working on issues from justice to the environment.

Early Life and Education

Steve Reed was born and grew up in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. He attended Verulam School. After his school years, he went on to study English at Sheffield University. In 1990, he began his career working in the educational publishing industry.

Working in Local Government

Steve Reed started his political journey in local government. He was first elected to the Lambeth Council in 1998. He represented the Town Hall ward.

Leading Lambeth Council

In 2002, Steve Reed became the leader of the opposition on Lambeth Council. Then, in 2006, the Labour Party gained control of the council. Steve Reed was chosen to be the council's leader. When he took over, Lambeth was facing challenges. However, under his leadership, the council improved its services and reputation by 2009. In 2010, Labour was re-elected to lead in Lambeth, which was a significant achievement.

During his time on Lambeth Council, Steve Reed held several key positions. He helped represent Labour councillors across the country. He also worked on children's services and employment for London Councils. He was involved in plans to make Lambeth a 'co-operative council'. This idea aimed to give local communities more say in how services were run. For his dedicated work in local government, Steve Reed was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Steve Reed was selected as the Labour candidate for Croydon North. He won the by-election on 29 November 2012. This victory made him a Member of Parliament (MP).

Important Roles in Parliament

In October 2013, Steve Reed was appointed a Shadow Home Office Minister. This meant he was part of the opposition team, challenging the government's policies. He was re-elected as an MP in the 2015 general election. In 2016, he resigned from his shadow minister role. He supported Owen Smith in the Labour leadership election that year.

In June 2018, Steve Reed worked to pass a new law. This law aimed to make hospitals more open about how they use physical force on patients. It also required police attending mental hospitals to wear body cameras. This was to help protect patients and ensure transparency.

In April 2020, Keir Starmer appointed him Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He later became Shadow Secretary of State for Justice in November 2021. In September 2023, he was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

He was elected as MP for the new area of Streatham and Croydon North in the 2024 general election. After the election, he was appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Protecting Our Environment

From July 2024 to September 2025, Steve Reed served as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. In this important role, he was responsible for protecting the environment, supporting farmers, and ensuring food safety in the UK.

During his time in this role, he spoke about plans to improve animal welfare. These plans included banning trail hunting, puppy farming, and snare traps. He also aimed to reduce animal testing and end the badger cull. Another goal was to stop importing food that did not meet UK production standards. He also addressed changes to farmers' inheritance tax rules.

Helping Communities and Homes

Since 5 September 2025, Steve Reed has been the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. In this important role, he is responsible for policies related to housing, local councils, and communities across the country. This includes working on issues like building new homes, supporting local services, and helping communities thrive.

Steve Reed became a member of the Privy Council on 10 July 2024. This means he is styled "The Right Honourable" for life.

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Steve Reed (politician) facts for kids

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