Steve Reed (politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable Steve Reed OBE MP
Official portrait, 2024
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 July 2024
Prime Minister	Keir Starmer
Preceded by	Steve Barclay
Member of Parliament for Streatham and Croydon North Croydon North (2012–2024)
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 November 2012
Preceded by	Malcolm Wicks
Majority	15,603 (35.0%)
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
In office 2 May 2002 – 29 November 2012
Succeeded by	Martin Tiedemann
Personal details
Born	Steven Mark Ward Reed St Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Political party	Labour Co-op
Alma mater	University of Sheffield

Steven Mark Ward Reed is a British politician. He has been the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since July 2024. He is a member of the Labour and Co-operative Party. Steve Reed has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Streatham and Croydon North since 2012. Before 2024, his constituency was called Croydon North.

Before becoming a government minister, Steve Reed held several important roles. He was a "Shadow Secretary of State" for different areas. This means he was the main spokesperson for his party on those topics. He covered Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2023–2024), Justice (2021–2023), and Communities and Local Government (2020–2021). Before becoming an MP, he led the Lambeth London Borough Council from 2006 to 2012.

Early Life and Education

Steve Reed was born and grew up in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. He went to Verulam School. His family worked at a printing factory called Odhams until it closed in 1983. Around that time, he joined the Labour Party.

He later studied English at Sheffield University. After university, he started working in educational publishing in 1990. He worked for several companies, including Routledge and Sweet & Maxwell.

Working in Local Government

Steve Reed first ran for a seat on the Lambeth London Borough Council in 1998. He won the Town Hall ward, which is now called Brixton Hill. In 2002, the Labour Party lost control of Lambeth Council. Steve Reed then became the leader of the opposition.

In 2006, the Labour Party won back control of Lambeth Council. Steve Reed was chosen to be the council's leader. When he started, Lambeth was seen as one of the worst-run boroughs in London. It had a low rating from the Audit Commission in 2006. By 2009, the council had improved a lot and received a much better rating. In the 2010 election, Labour gained more seats. This was the first time in twenty years that Labour had been re-elected to lead Lambeth.

Steve Reed held many important positions in local government. These included:

• Deputy Leader of Local Government Labour, which represents Labour councillors across the country.
• Deputy Chairman of the Local Government Association.
• A board member for London Councils, focusing on Children's Services and Employment.
• Chairman of Central London Forward, a group that speaks for five inner-London boroughs.
• A board member for the London Enterprise Partnership, representing London's boroughs.

In May 2010, Steve Reed started a plan to make Lambeth the country's first "co-operative council." The idea was to give more control to local communities and people who use services. This would help deliver better services and save money. This plan was seen as a possible new way for the Labour Party to work in local government.

Steve Reed was recognized for his work. In 2011, the Local Government Chronicle named him one of the three most important council leaders in the country. He was also the highest-ranked Labour politician on The Independent on Sunday's Pink List in 2010.

In 2013, Steve Reed was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award was for his services to local government.

Becoming a Member of Parliament (MP)

Official portrait of Steve Reed, 2017

Steve Reed first tried to become an MP in 2008 for the Streatham constituency. He was not chosen as the Labour candidate that time. On November 3, 2012, he became the Labour candidate for Croydon North. This was for a special election called a "by-election." The by-election happened after the death of the previous MP, Malcolm Wicks. Steve Reed won the by-election on November 29, 2012.

In October 2013, the Labour leader Ed Miliband appointed Steve Reed as a "Shadow Home Office Minister." This meant he was part of the opposition team that watched over the government's Home Office.

In the 2015 general election, Steve Reed was re-elected as MP for Croydon North. He received a large number of votes and a strong majority.

In June 2016, Steve Reed resigned from his role as Shadow Minister for Local Government. This was part of a group resignation by many Labour MPs. They resigned because they disagreed with the party's leader at the time, Jeremy Corbyn. Steve Reed supported Owen Smith in the leadership election that followed.

Important Roles in Parliament

In June 2018, Steve Reed tried to pass a new law in Parliament. This law would make hospitals share details about how they use physical force on patients. It would also require hospital staff to get training about treating all patients fairly. He spoke about the death of a young man from his area, Olaseni Lewis, who died during a restraint at a hospital. A Conservative MP, Philip Davies, stopped the bill from passing at that time. However, a version of Reed's bill was passed later in July 2018. It requires police officers who go to mental hospitals to wear body cameras.

In April 2020, Keir Starmer appointed Steve Reed as the "Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government." He then became the "Shadow Secretary of State for Justice" in November 2021. This meant he was the main opposition spokesperson for justice issues.

On September 4, 2023, Keir Starmer appointed him as the "Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs."

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

Helping the Environment and Farmers

As the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed is now a government minister. He is responsible for policies related to the environment, food production, and rural areas in the UK.

When the government announced changes to how farmers pay inheritance tax, there were protests. Steve Reed first said that these changes would not affect most farms. However, he later admitted that the situation could change for farms once the new rules start next year.

More About Steve Reed

Steve Reed was made a member of the Privy Council on July 10, 2024. This is a group of senior advisors to the King. Being a member means he can use the title "The Right Honourable" for the rest of his life.