Following Andy Burnham’s appointment as prime minister, Jonathan Reynolds MP has returned to the world of international trade, becoming the UK’s new Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.
Burnham’s reshuffle sees the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) effectively merged with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
He had previously led DBT from July 2024 to September 2025, moving to become chief whip in Sir Keir Starmer’s main ministerial reshuffle.
Trade and business stints
Trade
Prior to entering government, he had held the shadow business and trade brief since September 2023 and is known to be a well-experienced political operator, having had various frontline roles.
When in opposition, Reynolds called for a “strategic approach” to trade negotiations and criticised the Conservative government’s attempts to sign as many deals as possible. Instead, he has signalled a focus on “quality over quantity”, talking up agreements with India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
During his first stint as trade chief after Labour entered government, he concluded negotiations for the UK-India trade deal, led talks with the GCC, oversaw the government’s initial rescue of British Steel and was a key part of the UK-EU leadership summit last year.
Reynolds was also in charge of the department when the government published a series of long-term strategies, most notably the Trade Strategy and the Modern Industrial Strategy, as well as a series of individual sector plans.
The Trade Strategy was described as a “pivotal moment” for the UK’s international trading community, with the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade submitting evidence directly to the government on how the strategy could help British importers and exporters.
Early into his first governmental role, he told Times Radio that he was “concerned” about a “loophole” that allowed firms to avoid import duties by shipping small packages directly to customers. This turned out to be prescient, with the government recently confirming plans to reform this low value goods relief, following similar moves by the US and EU.
In line with the 2024 Labour manifesto, Reynolds has also repeatedly emphasised that he does not advocate for UK re-entry into the EU single market or customs union. He supported the Starmer government’s approach of trying to secure smaller agreements to relieve trade barriers, including sanitary and phytosanitary controls.
Industry
He has also been a long-term advocate for a long-term UK industrial strategy and was not shy about saying that past governments – both Labour and Conservative – had not come up with a joined-up approach for the UK economy.
In his previous role as shadow business secretary, he launched Labour’s industrial strategy on 26 September 2022. Under the plans, he argued for an Industrial Strategy Council that would report back on the four ‘missions’ of the policy:
- Delivering clean power by 2030
- Harnessing data for public good
- Caring for the future
- Building a resilient economy
Reynolds highlighted common issues facing companies – such as supply chain shocks and a need for skilled workers – as some of the problems the strategy would tackle.
The Industrial Strategy that he contributed toward in 2025 did indeed cover these issues. At the time, business leaders released a joint statement to say this was “a significant step forward and a valuable opportunity for the business community to rally behind a new vision for the UK.”
Background
Born in Houghton-le-Spring in the North East of England to a working-class family – his father was a firefighter in Durham for over thirty years – Reynolds graduated from the University of Manchester.
After a stint in local government, Reynolds worked for former MP James Purnell before succeeding him as the representative for the Manchester-area seat of Stalybridge and Hyde in the 2010 general election.
In the last general election, he secured 16,320 votes for the constituency – double that of his nearest rival.
Pre-trade experience
Reynolds has served in frontbench roles for every Labour leader since Ed Miliband.
First taking on a number of junior roles under Miliband, he offered to resign upon Jeremy Corbyn taking over as party leader.
He was persuaded to stay and took on the rail portfolio. After resigning from this role and spending a brief time on the back benches, Reynolds returned to take the economy and City of London portfolios on Corbyn’s front bench.
He held onto the City role until moving to the work and pensions brief shortly after Starmer became leader in 2020, later being shuffled to the business role in 2021.
Financial services
During his time as Labour’s shadow city minister, he was described as an important representative for the party in a place where the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, was not typically welcomed.
He was noticeably critical of Brexit’s impact on financial services, calling attention to some of the gaps left by post-Brexit legislation that would hit various industries.
In November 2022, he was awarded Freedom of the City by the City of London Corporation in recognition of his work for the square mile and for UK businesses as a whole.
Trains, ships and automobiles
During his stint as rails shadow minister, he backed the nationalisation of the UK’s railways. He also called attention to a “chronic underinvestment in infrastructure in the regions outside London” that would stunt the growth of UK business outside of the South East of England.
In a debate on the automotive industry this past July, he said the UK would “never be able to match the sheer fiscal firepower of the US Inflation Reduction Act” but said that the UK still had advantages in other areas, such as research and development.
He also signed a parliamentary early day motion criticising DP World and P&O Ferries for their treatment of workers.
Personal
Reynolds is a Sunderland AFC supporter, a member of the Labour Party’s Christian group and a self-identified “moderate”.
The North-Easterner also owns two Labradoodles, which won the Westminster Dog of the Year competition in 2016.
[Note: This article was updated following Reynold's reappointment to the trade department in the first Burnham cabinet.]
