John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan

John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan Template:Post-nominals (born 8 May 1947) is a British politician. A member of the Labour Party, he has held various Cabinet positions under Prime Minister Tony Blair from 1999 to 2007, lastly as Home Secretary from 2006 to 2007. He was also a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1987 to 2010, and has been a Member of the House of Lords since 2010.

Born in Bellshill to working-class, Roman Catholic parents, Reid first became involved in politics when he joined the Young Communist League in 1972.<ref name=Won>Template:Cite news</ref> He later joined the Labour Party, working for them as a senior researcher before being elected to the House of Commons in 1987 as the MP for Motherwell North. He served as a junior minister in two departments from 1997, before he was promoted to the Cabinet in 1999; he served continuously in the Cabinet until Blair resigned in 2007. Reid served as Scottish Secretary from 1999 to 2001, Northern Ireland Secretary from 2001 to 2002, Chairman of the Labour Party and Minister without Portfolio from 2002 to 2003, Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council in 2003, Health Secretary from 2003 to 2005, Defence Secretary from 2005 to 2006, and Home Secretary from 2006 to 2007.

He retired from frontline politics in 2007 following Gordon Brown's appointment as Prime Minister, taking on a role as the Chairman of Celtic Football Club. After stepping down as an MP in 2010, he was nominated for a life peerage in the Dissolution Honours and elevated to the House of Lords. Reid took a leading role in the campaign for a "No" vote in the 2011 AV referendum, appearing alongside Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, and also took a leading role in the campaign opposing Scottish independence.

Background

Reid was born in Bellshill Maternity Hospital,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> North Lanarkshire, Scotland, to working-class Roman Catholic parents; his grandparents were of mixed denomination. His grandfather was "a staunch Church of Scotland Presbyterian and his grandmother a poor and illiterate Irish peasant."<ref name="g">John Reid: The Blairite bruiserTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore The Independent, 27 January 2001.</ref> His mother, Mary, was a factory worker and his father, Thomas, was a postman.<ref name="g"/>

Reid attended St Patrick's High School, Coatbridge.<ref name="g"/> The adolescent Reid showed an early talent for organisation and political activism by leading a student strike in protest at a school rule.<ref name="g"/> Reid initially decided not to go to university but instead took a series of jobs, including construction work on an oil pipeline and another in insurance;<ref name="Irish Independent">"John Reid, the Blairite bruiser all set to do battle". Irish Independent, 27 January 2001.</ref><ref name="g"/> at the latter job, which Reid later claimed opened his eyes politically,<ref name="g"/><ref name="Irish Independent"/> he was assigned to the tenements in the East End of Glasgow after the city was hit by storms in late-1968 and saw poverty of a kind he did not know existed. Soon after this experience, he joined the Labour Party.<ref name="g"/>

Around this time Reid's passion for history was kindled when his girlfriend (and later wife), Cathie McGowan, bought him a copy of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer. Reid was spellbound.<ref name="g"/> Following this he attended the Open University in his mid-twenties to study a Foundation Course and then later attended the University of Stirling, becoming rector of the Students' Union<ref name="g"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and gaining a BA in history and a PhD in economic history, with a thesis on slavery in Africa written as a critique of the Marxist model of historical change, titled Warrior Aristocrats in Crisis: the political effects of the transition from the slave trade to palm oil commerce in the nineteenth century Kingdom of Dahomey.<ref name=ePolitix>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="d">The Operator The Guardian, 2 March 2002.</ref>

From 1979 to 1983, Reid was a research officer for the Labour Party in Scotland, and from 1983 to 1985, was a political adviser to Labour leader Neil Kinnock. From 1986 to 1987, he was Scottish Organiser of Trade Unionists for Labour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He entered parliament at the 1987 general election as MP for the Motherwell North constituency. After boundary changes, he was returned at the 1997 election for the new constituency of Hamilton North and Bellshill; and after further boundary changes in 2005, he was returned at the 2005 election for the new constituency of Airdrie and Shotts with 59% of the votes cast.<ref name=ePolitix/>

Reid was married to Cathie McGowan from 1969<ref name=DarkHorse>Template:Cite news</ref> until her sudden death from a heart attack in 1998.<ref name=ePolitix/><ref>British BulldogTemplate:Dead link The Sunday Business Post, 20 August 2006.</ref> They had two sons, Kevin and Mark. In 2002, he married film director Carine Adler.<ref>Wedding bells beckon for NI secretary, BBC News, 5 February 2002.</ref>

According to The Guardian, in 1991, Reid arrived at the House of Commons "drunk one day and tried to force his way on to the floor to vote. When an attendant stepped forward to stop him, Reid threw a punch".<ref name="DarkHorse"/> Reid stopped drinking in 1994 and gave up his 60-a-day cigarette habit in 2003.<ref>The hard-drinking, hard-smoking health secretary Template:Webarchive, Men's Health Forum, 1 February 2005.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Political ideology

At university, Reid was a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With the support of Communist and Labour students, he became president of the students' union.<ref name=Won /> After leaving university, he became a professional Labour Party activist, linked politically with Neil Kinnock.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As an advisor to Neil Kinnock, Reid was one of the earliest advocates for reforms to the Labour Party.<ref name="g"/> In 1983, after the Labour Party's worst electoral defeat in 65 years, and at Kinnock's request, he put on a single sheet of paper what he thought had made Labour unelectable: "Leaderless, unpatriotic, dominated by demagogues, policies fifteen years out of date".<ref name="g"/> Elected to Parliament in 1987 as the Member of Parliament for Motherwell North, within two years he was appointed to the Shadow Front Bench as spokesperson for Children. In 1990, Reid was appointed as Defence spokesperson.<ref name="g"/>

When the former Yugoslavia was breaking up in the 1990s, Reid was in dialogue with the Bosnian Serbs.<ref name="f">Template:Cite web</ref> During the Bosnian War, Reid struck up a friendship with Radovan Karadžić, later to be indicted as a war criminal. Reid admitted he spent three days at a luxury Geneva lakeside hotel as a guest of Karadžić in 1993.<ref name="d"/>

Government career

Minister of State for the Armed Forces

After Labour came to power at the 1997 general election, Reid became Armed Forces Minister, where he played a key role in the Defence Secretary George Robertson's Strategic Defence Review.<ref name="g"/> Reid gained considerable praise for the review; with some commentators going so far as to describe his success in cutting military expenditure at the same time as winning over the defence chiefs as "brilliant".<ref name=ePolitix/><ref name="d"/> As Minister he lobbied for the release of two Scots Guards convicted of murdering teenager Peter McBride in Belfast in 1992. At the same time he refused requests to meet the McBride family.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reid eventually met with the McBride family whilst he was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Minister for Transport

In 1998, Reid moved from Defence to become Minister of State for Transport.<ref name="i">The Guardian Profile: John Reid The Guardian, 12 June 2003.</ref> Prime Minister Tony Blair then sent Reid to the Department of Transport to ensure the late-running and over-budget London Underground Jubilee Line Extension was completed by the end of 2000.<ref name="nyt"/> He and John Prescott brought in Bechtel as Project Managers, ensuring Phase 1 was opened on 1 May 1999, and the whole Jubilee line with the exception of one station (Westminster) was ultimately open for business by the Millennium.<ref name="nyt">Its New Transport Line Is Late and Over Budget : Will the New Century Get to London on Time? New York Times, 11 February 1999.</ref> Reid demonstrated several aspects: he negotiated strongly; he was a political fighter; he had a "capacity for non-dogmatic adaptability and reliability";<ref name=BBC2002>John Reid, BBC News, 17 October 2002.</ref> and was described as "a safe pair of hands".<ref>Dr John Reid: Profile BBC Scotland, 24 January 2001.</ref>

Secretary of State for Scotland

Having impressed at both Transport and Defence Reid was promoted to Secretary of State for Scotland on 17 May 1999 and a full place at the cabinet table.<ref name="i"/>

In his first month, the Scottish Parliament was re-established after an interval of 300 years.<ref>History made as Scottish parliament opens The Guardian, 12 May 1999.</ref> The reconstituted Scotland Office had been much reduced in importance with devolution but Reid used the position to build his profile, prepared to put the government's case on any issue against TV interviewers.<ref name="j">After Donald ... The Guardian, 12 October 2000.</ref>

After Donald Dewar, Scotland's respected First Minister, died in 2000 Reid's name was even mentioned as a possible replacement.<ref name="j"/> In fact Reid was left to deal with much of the fall-out after the death and would be increasingly at loggerheads with the new Labour First Minister, Henry McLeish, whom Reid felt was taking the Parliament down a nationalist path.<ref name="d"/> The situation became so strained between the two that in an unguarded moment McLeish publicly labelled Reid "a patronising bastard".<ref>Labours chiefs in "comments" row, BBC News, 8 June 2001.</ref>

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

Reid became Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in January 2001 following the resignation of Peter Mandelson. He was the first Roman Catholic to hold the position.<ref name=BBC2007>Profile: John Reid, BBC News, 6 May 2007.</ref> While dismissing the personal significance of this, he used it to insist that every person in Northern Ireland, from whatever background or tradition, wanted a prosperous future.<ref name="d"/>

Throughout his period of office he was continually engaged in talks with all side of the community in an attempt to reduce the level of inter-community troubles.<ref>Reid bid to halt Belfast rioting, BBC News, 5 June 2002.</ref> He blamed paramilitaries from both sides of the community for the ongoing violence. He confronted both, on the ground, at a violent east Belfast interface, where he met loyalist residents of Cluan Place and then had talks with nationalist residents in the nearby Short Strand.<ref>Paramilitaries 'to blame' for violence, BBC News, 4 September 2002.</ref>

Reid ruled that ceasefires proclaimed by the Ulster Defence Association and the Loyalist Volunteer Force could no longer be recognised by the government because of their involvement in sectarian attacks and murders.<ref>Riots engulf Belfast as peace line strains ceasefire to the limit The Guardian, 5 June 2002.</ref> At the same time he put pressure on the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) to make a move on arms decommissioning to help end the political impasse, whilst acknowledging that putting its weapons beyond use would be a difficult step to take.<ref>Reid puts pressure on IRA to decommission RTÉ News, 23 September 2001.</ref>

It was in this context that, in October 2001 he welcomed a Gerry Adams speech as a "highly significant" step which he hoped would pave the way for a "groundbreaking" move by the IRA to disarm which would transform the political situation.<ref>Reid welcomes significant step The Guardian, 23 October 2001.</ref> And following the IRA's decision Reid responded by announcing the immediate demolition of British Army security bases and announcing a reduction in troop levels as the security situation improved,<ref>Reid announces NI security cuts, BBC News, 24 October 2001.</ref> effectively beginning a process which culminated in September 2005, when the disarmament monitor for Northern Ireland, the Canadian General John de Chastelain announced that the IRA had given up its entire arsenal of weapons after more than three decades of armed struggle against British rule.<ref>IRA scraps all its arms CNN International, 26 September 2005.</ref>

Reid oversaw the final stages of the transformation of the RUC into the Police Service Northern Ireland, and the first endorsement of the service by representatives of the Nationalist community.<ref>RUC title 'may go' by November, BBC News, 21 September 2001.</ref>

Political problems continued, resulting in the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly a year later in October 2002.<ref>Assembly suspended over 'loss of trust', BBC News, 14 October 2002.</ref> The peace process was to be put on hold until there was a "clear and unequivocal commitment" that the IRA would disband. Reid made an emergency statement to Parliament announcing direct rule in the interim.<ref>Blair tells Adams the IRA must disbandTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore Times Online, 11 October 2002.</ref>

In the interim, Reid also had to deal with continuing domestic problems; including those with loyalist ceasefires, sectarian murders and the tinderbox of Holy Cross primary school in north Belfast (that ignited the worst rioting in the city in years). But, so far as 10 Downing Street was concerned, Reid had gone a long way to delivering the rarest of political commodities – success in Northern Ireland.<ref name="d"/>

Chairman of the Labour Party and Minister without Portfolio

Reid was appointed Chairman of the Labour Party and Minister Without Portfolio on 24 October 2002.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In this purely political post, his trouble-shooting skills were employed as the Labour Government's chief spokesperson; this earned him the nickname "Minister for the Today Programme".

One of Reid's key challenges was to keep the trade unions (the Labour Party's main funders) onside despite the antipathy shown by the unions to many of the Government's proposals. As part of this, Reid agreed to look at proposals to stop private contractors exploiting low-paid workers (a key union demand).<ref>Blair's Valentine date to patch up with the unionsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore The Times, 4 January 2003.</ref>

Reid and United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld answer press questions in Taormina, Sicily (9 February 2006)

Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council

In March 2003, Robin Cook resigned as Leader of the House of Commons due to his objections to the legality of Britain's involvement in the Iraq War. Reid was appointed to take over the role on 4 April; it was thought that a heavyweight figure was more likely to ensure the Commons' continued support for the war.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He held the position for only a little over two months and was succeeded by a more junior member of the Government, Peter Hain.

Secretary of State for Health

Reid was made Secretary of State for Health in June 2003, replacing Alan Milburn after the latter's resignation. He was reportedly less than happy with the appointment. He was reported by Private Eye at the time as reacting "Oh fuck, not health."<ref>Private Eye, 12 June 2003.</ref> But Reid had established himself as one of Tony Blair's most trusted ministers, and his appointment as Health Secretary took him into his fourth cabinet job in less than a year.<ref name=BBC2002 />

At Health, Reid saw himself as a reformer, controversially increasing capacity by introducing private companies to run treatment centres for knee, hip and eye operations. He claimed this provided extra staff and extra capacity to help treat more patients in the NHS at an unprecedented rate.<ref>NHS calls in Kwik-Fit-style eye surgeonsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore, The Times, 13 January 2004.</ref>

Reid also introduced plans to increase the number of smoke-free workplaces and improve diet and sexual health as part of a major drive to improve public health in England<ref>John Reid outlines proposals to improve public health Template:Webarchive UK Government DirectGov statement.</ref> and began a major public consultation as a precursor to parliamentary proposals aimed at improving the nation's health.<ref>John Reid announces consultation on public health North East Public Health Observatory.</ref> He also encouraged volunteer engagement in the health service.<ref>John Reid Outlines the 'People's Potential' for strengthening the NHS Template:Webarchive Centre for Voluntary Services.</ref>

Many of his changes caused criticism and controversy, which Reid was not afraid to take head on, delivering a staunch defence of Labour's reform programme to the party's annual conference. He made the case for extending to all the choices normally only available to those who could afford them.<ref name=ePolitix /> Reid's management style was considered autocratic by some and he came under considerable fire from National Health Service (NHS) leaders.<ref>Catcalls, barracking and laughter force Hewitt to abandon speech The Guardian, 27 April 2006.</ref> He was criticized for giving GPs a 22% pay rise while also allowing them to opt out of providing weekend and evening treatment.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

As Health Secretary, Reid had been in favour of limiting the government's proposed smoking ban as much as possible. In their 2005 election manifesto, he introduced a pledge to ban smoking in all places where food was served. His successor Patricia Hewitt favoured a complete ban. Reid won in the cabinet, gaining an exemption for private clubs and pubs that did not serve food.<ref>Cabinet agrees England smoking ban, BBC News, 25 October 2005.</ref> The House of Commons rebels proposing a complete ban were successful when MPs were given a free vote on the issue. Patricia Hewitt voted with the rebels against the Cabinet's proposals.<ref>Campaigners welcome smoking ban, BBC News, 15 February 2006.</ref>

Secretary of State for Defence

Reid answers questions at a Pentagon briefing on 7 November 2005.

Following the incumbent Labour Party's 2005 general election victory, Reid was appointed Secretary of State for Defence. He replaced Geoff Hoon.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

At Defence, Reid questioned "the adequacy of the international legal framework in the light of modern developments in conflict". He suggested that "the body of relevant international rules and conventions should, where beneficial, be strengthened", especially "to cope with conflict against non-state actors such as the international terrorist… this means extending, not reducing, such conventions".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Reid committed 3,300 troops to Helmand province, Afghanistan in January 2006.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite a lack of detailed intelligence, the Army anticipated the Helmand mission would be straightforward compared to its difficult mission in Basra it was withdrawing from, with short small patrols from fixed bases.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In speaking to the media Reid said "We would be perfectly happy to leave in three years and without firing one shot because our job is to protect the reconstruction."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the first year about 4 million bullets and 25,000 artillery rounds had been fired by the British armed forces.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Reid took an aggressive approach to defending his government's international policy. Speaking ahead of a conference on NATO modernisation in Germany on 4 February 2006, Reid asserted in a press interview that "no institution has the divine right to exist".<ref>Future of NATO at risk, says Reid, BBC News, 4 February 2006.</ref> Similarly on 19 March 2006, in response to former interim Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi's claim that Iraq is in the grip of civil war, Reid defended the British Government's contrary view. He stated: "Every single politician I have met here [in Iraq] from the prime minister to the president, the defence minister and indeed Iyad Allawi himself said to me there's an increase in the sectarian killing, but there's not a civil war and we will not allow a civil war to develop".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

By the time of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon Conflict, Reid was no longer Defence Secretary, having been succeeded by Des Browne.

On 3 February 2010, Reid gave evidence about his role as Defence Secretary to the Iraq Inquiry. He said that America's experience of the Vietnam War had impacted negatively on US post-invasion planning in Iraq because US military chiefs "weren't thinking of detailed nation-building". Reid also said he had "deep sadness at the loss of life" in Iraq.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Home Secretary

Reid was appointed Home Secretary on 5 May 2006, replacing Charles Clarke after the latter was removed in the wake of a Home Office scandal involving the release of foreign national prisoners.<ref name=BBC2007 />

On 2 July 2006, Reid proposed a Bill for the autumn Queen's Speech, to be brought into law at the next session of Parliament. He proposed a new Official Secrets Act, the first since the 1989 OSA, to punish with longer prison sentences intelligence officers who blow the whistle on government policy by leaking secret information. To remove their key legal defence of necessity and/or defence of public interest.<ref>Leppard, David. "New laws to punish whistle blowers", The Sunday Times, 2 July 2006.</ref>

By the time he arrived at the Home Office, Reid was seen as one of the government's most effective performers over the previous decade, being described by many commentators as a bruiser, but with a strong academic leaning.<ref name=ePolitix />

At the Home Office Reid hit the ground running.<ref name=ePolitix /> He contended that rapid global change and the associated challenges of mass migration, terrorism and organised crime had overwhelmed the outdated Home Office approach.<ref name="n">I can fix the problems, but I need three years Daily Telegraph, 21 January 2007.</ref> Reid caused considerable controversy by attacking the leadership and management systems previously in place in the Home Office. He infamously declared it to be "not fit for purpose", adding the phrase to the British political lexicon,<ref>Note: the term was already in general use from Section 14 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979, which requires that "goods sold in the course of a business" must be "fit for the purpose".</ref> and vowed to "make the public feel safe".<ref>Reid vowing to make Britain safer, BBC News, 24 May 2006.</ref>

Reid's comments were rebuffed by Clarke,<ref>Key quotes: Clarke's anger, BBC News, 27 June 2006.</ref> who criticised his comments in a defence of his own period in office.<ref>EXCLUSIVE: Charles Clarke Says John Reid is Not Fit For Purpose, Iain Dale's Diary, 26 June 2006.</ref>

Within 100 days of joining the Department, he had published three reform plans for a radical transformation. They included 8,000 more prison places; a 40 per cent reduction in headquarters staff by 2010; a commitment to making the Immigration and Nationality Directorate an agency with a uniformed border staff and tough new powers. radical overhaul of the core systems and structures within the Home Office itself, reform of IND, re-balancing of the criminal justice system, reform of the probation service and the review of counter-terrorist capabilities.<ref name="n" />

He condemned the probation service for letting people down, and argued for fundamental reform.<ref>John Reid orders probation review Home Office, 7 November 2006.</ref> An early decision during his time at the Home Office was to move child molesters living in hostels near schools further away from them.<ref>Abusers moved from near schools, BBC News, 18 June 2006.</ref> Reid also caused controversy in August 2006 by calling for the creation of an independent committee to impose a national annual limit on the number of immigrants entering the UK.<ref>Reid calls for migration debate, BBC News, 6 August 2006.</ref> The Guardian claimed that Reid was "playing to the racist gallery" and compared his plans to Soviet-style central planning of the economy.<ref>Get a grip, Mr. Reid Guardian Unlimited, 7 August 2006.</ref>

Because of the prisons' overcrowding crisis in Birmingham, on 9 October 2006 he announced emergency measures amid fears that the prison population was nearing maximum capacity.<ref>Police cells to ease prison crisis Birmingham Mail, 9 October 2006.</ref> Reid has announced his support of measures to restrict the ability of extremist messages to be disseminated on the Internet so as to make the web a more hostile place for terrorists.<ref>John Reid & EU partners to crack down on the web used as propaganda, BBC News, 26 October 2006.</ref>

In 2006 Reid and the Home Office lost their appeal against the High Court ruling in the Afghan hijackers case 2006.<ref>Reid loses Afghan hijack ruling, BBC News, 4 August 2006.</ref> In this controversial case, a group of nine Afghan men who hijacked a Boeing 727 in February 2000, while fleeing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, were granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom.<ref>Timeline of Afghan hijacker case, BBC News.</ref> The original ruling in 2004 ruled that returning the men to Afghanistan would breach their human rights under the Human Rights Act 1998. The Home Office granted the men "temporary leave to remain", which involved restricting their freedom of movement and did not allow them to work;<ref name="h">Reid fights Afghan hijack ruling, BBC News, 31 July 2006.</ref> in 2006, the High Court ruled that the men must be granted "discretionary leave to remain", which includes the right to work.<ref name="f"/> Reid challenged the ruling in the Court of Appeal, arguing that the Home Office "should have the power to grant only temporary admission to failed asylum seekers who are only allowed to stay in the UK due to their human rights".<ref name="h" />

Reid accused government's critics of putting national security at risk by their failure to recognise the serious nature of the threat facing Britain.<ref>Anti-terror critics just don't get it, says Reid The Guardian, 10 August 2006.</ref> and called for reform of the human rights laws.<ref>John Reid calls for human rights law reform The Telegraph, 17 September 2007.</ref>

From 1 August 2006, Reid introduced a new warning system to alert the public to the threat of attacks by al-Qaeda and other terror groups in order to increase public understanding and awareness of the terrorist threat. Announcing the plans, Reid told MPs that the terrorist threat would only be overcome by "united action by all of us" and urged the public to remain vigilant at all times.<ref>Terror warnings to be made public, BBC News, 10 July 2006.</ref> The threat level, already at "Severe", the second highest level,<ref>MI5 web page says attack threat is severe The Times, 2 August 2006.</ref> then moved even higher.

On 10 August, Reid announced that the UK had been put on its highest state of security alert, after police said they'd thwarted the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot, which planned to simultaneously detonate liquid explosives, carried aboard airliners travelling from the United Kingdom to the United States and Canada, disguised as soft drinks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>UK police foil terrorist plot ABC – PM, 10 August 2006.</ref> Extreme security measures had been put in place at all the country's airports.<ref>'Mass Murder Terror Plot' Uncovered The Guardian, 10 August 2006.</ref><ref>Political Hot Topics CNN Situation Room, 10 August 2006.</ref>

Reid revealed that the alleged terror plot could have caused civilian casualties on an "unprecedented scale" and security sources said an attack was believed to have been imminent.<ref>Police foil terror plot Channel 4 News, 10 August 2006.</ref> With 21 people in custody, Reid said he believed the 'main players' had been 'accounted for' but emphasised that that still left possible "unknown" players.<ref>Judging the terror threat, BBC News, 6 August.</ref> Reid also revealed that at least four major plots had been thwarted in the previous year<ref>UK says more terror plots thwarted, Taipei Times, 14 August 2006.</ref> and security sources confirmed that two dozen major terrorist conspiracies were under investigation. Reid issued a dire warning against losing the "battle of ideas" with al-Qa'eda, and called for an urgent but controversial escalation in the propaganda war, saying that the government needed to do much more to win the battle of ideas.<ref>Al-Qa'eda is winning the war of ideas, says Reid The Telegraph, 24 October 2006.</ref>

Reid then led European Ministers in efforts to make the Internet a "more hostile" place for terrorists and crack down on people using the web to share information on explosives or spread propaganda.<ref>Anti-terror plan targets internet, BBC News, 26 October 2006.</ref>

In September 2006, Reid addressed Muslims in a run-down part of east London, warning them that fanatics were looking to groom and brainwash children for suicide bombings. During the speech he was confronted and barracked by Abu Izzadeen, also known as Omar or Trevor Brooks. Mr Brooks is a leader of the UK-banned Al Ghurabaa, an offshoot of the terrorist-supporting Al-Muhajiroun – a man who many accuse of glorifying terrorism and inciting racial hatred during nightly conversations (often using the nom de plume Abu Baraa) on a New York-based chatroom service.<ref>Islamic Caliphate in Britain? Template:Webarchive Global Politician, 25 September 2006.</ref>

After the high-profile at the Home Office, his tough stance on terrorism and his domination of the headlines in the aftermath of the alleged terror plot, Reid was increasingly tipped by Labour MPs to run for the party's leadership.<ref>Why Tories should fear John Reid Social Affairs Unit archives, 28 September 2006.</ref>

In fact, Reid kept everyone guessing about his leadership intentions until the very end. Ultimately the surprise was that, having decided not to stand, he announced his intention to quit frontline politics and return to the backbenches. It was speculated that, as a true Blairite believer, he either wanted to carry the torch of reform himself as Labour leader or else quit the scene altogether to make way for new blood.<ref name=BBC2007 />

Resignation from government

In May 2007, Reid announced his intention to resign from the Cabinet when Tony Blair left office, and stated his plans to return to the Labour backbenches. He stated he would support Gordon Brown in the leadership election and his administration.<ref>Reid to resign as home secretary, BBC News, 6 May 2007.</ref> Reid left office as Home Secretary on 27 June 2007 and was replaced by Jacqui Smith the next day.<ref>Brown appoints first female home secretary.</ref>

In September 2007 he announced that he would not seek re-election at the next general election.<ref>Reid to step down at next poll, BBC News, 15 September 2007.</ref>

Reid was linked with a return to cabinet in June 2009 under Gordon Brown but reportedly turned down the offer.<ref>Allies of Brown go on offensive, BBC News, 4 June 2009.</ref>

Votes

In December 2004 and October 2005, Reid voted in favour of a bill to introduce a compulsory British national identity card.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He voted for the NHS foundation trust proposal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also voted in favour of allowing unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples to adopt,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and for lowering the age of consent for gay sex to 16.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Reid voted for the replacement of the Trident system.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He voted against all the House of Lords reform options except a fully appointed House of Lords.<ref name="g"/>

On the introduction of Labour's anti-terrorism laws, he opposed an amendment that would have limited the fingerprinting and strip-searching of persons detained at a police station to those detained in connection with a terrorism investigation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He voted against changing the text in the Prevention of Terrorism Bill from "The Secretary of State may make a control order against an individual" to "The Secretary of State may apply to the court for a control order...."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2003, he voted against a motion that the case had not yet been made for war against Iraq,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and voted for the declaration of war against Iraq.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2007, he voted against a motion calling for an independent inquiry by a committee of Privy Counsellors into the Iraq War.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After cabinet

On 10 May 2010, Reid argued on BBC television that David Cameron should become the next Prime Minister in the interests of honouring the democratic wishes of the British people, with the Conservative Party having received more votes than any other party.<ref>Lib-Lab coalition 'bad for the country', BBC News, 10 May 2010.</ref> Had Labour and the Liberal Democrats formed an alliance, their combined votes would outnumber Conservative votes at the 2010 general election,<ref>Brown resignation: Reaction in quotes, BBC News, 11 May 2010.</ref> but Reid noted that a Labour/Liberal Democrat alliance would not have the numbers to form a parliamentary majority by themselves.<ref>Hung parliament: The Lib Dem and Labour dilemmas, BBC News, 11 May 2010.</ref><ref>Hung parliament: Labour 'close to conceding defeat', BBC News, 11 May 2010.</ref>

The same month, it was announced that Reid had been made a life peer in the dissolution honours following the 2010 election.<ref>Dissolution Honours: John Prescott made a peer, BBC News, 28 May 2010.</ref><ref>Dissolution Honours: Dissolution list, BBC News, 28 May 2010.</ref> He was created Baron Reid of Cardowan, of Stepps in Lanarkshire on 16 July 2010.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

In April 2011, to the discomfort of Labour colleagues,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he campaigned with the Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and others against changes to the UK's voting system.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the campaign, he made the claim that the alternative vote would violate the principle of one person one vote. He wrote that "it gives the supporters of unpopular fringe candidates numerous votes, while mainstream voters only get one".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The referendum on the Alternative Vote was won decisively by Reid's "No" side.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In April 2013, Reid said that Labour had made a mistake with immigration while in government, and now in opposition was not providing an alternative.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In June 2014, Reid appeared in a full-page advert in the Scottish Catholic Observer, encouraging readers to vote against Scottish independence in the September referendum. The advert failed to state who had paid for it, which is a breach of Electoral Commission rules, and following complaints, Reid revealed that it had been paid for by an organisation led by Willie Haughey.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The referendum resulted in a "No" vote.

Expenses

Following the political scandal over MP expenses in 2009, Sir Thomas Legg requested Reid repay £2,731.88 of his claimed expenses. Reid chose to repay a total of £7,336.51. He was later one of 23 MPs who asked for a refund of some of the money they had repaid, and received £4,604.63 back.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Outside politics

Football

On 28 September 2007, it was announced Reid would become Chairman of Celtic Football Club<ref>Reid named as new Celtic chairman, BBC News, 28 September 2007.</ref> taking over from Brian Quinn. His appointment was ratified by Celtic's shareholders on 19 November 2007.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sports journalist Graham Spiers found him "an engaging and intriguing Celtic chairman".<ref>John Reid's anti-slogan pitch is toughTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore The Times, 18 December 2007.</ref>

Reid is a lifelong supporter of the club, and described the appointment as "an honour and a privilege".<ref>Board changes at Celtic PLC Template:Webarchive Celtic FC, 28 September 2007.</ref>

University of London

In late 2008 it was announced that Reid would be taking up the post of honorary Professor at the University College London and become the chairman of the newly created Institute of Security and Resilience Studies (ISRS) at UCL.<ref>Security and resilience solutions for the 21st century: a new UCL institute University College London, 17 November 2008.</ref><ref>Mass migration threatens Britain's national security, says John Reid Daily Telegraph, 16 November 2008.</ref>

G4S

On 18 December 2008, G4S (Group 4 Securicor) announced that Reid would be taking up a post with the company as group consultant.<ref>G4S Appoints Reid Template:Webarchive Security Oracle, 18 December 2008.</ref>

Top Level Group

Reid is currently a member of the Top Level Group of UK Parliamentarians for Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation, established in October 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Awards

In June 2009, Reid was awarded an honorary degree from Stirling University "for his contribution to public affairs".<ref>Reid celebrates honorary degree, BBC News, 24 June 2009.</ref><ref>Anger over honour for Reid the 'war criminal' The Times, 3 May 2009.</ref><ref>Honorary degree for Reid sparks outrage The Scotsman, 4 May 2009.</ref><ref>Students' anger at honour for former minister Herald Scotland, 4 May 2009.</ref>

External links

• Template:Hansard-contribs
• Template:Webarchive Official biography, Prime Minister's Office
• Profile of John Reid MP SourceWatch
• Template:C-SPAN

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