John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan

John Reid in 2020

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

Quotes

• Our system is not fit for purpose. It's inadequate in terms of its scope, it's inadequate in terms of its information technology, leadership, management systems and processes.
  • Of the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate; BBC News 23 May 2006

• It's not my job to manage this department - it's my job to lead this department.
  • BBC News 23 May 2006

• He said he did not believe the Home Office was "intrinsically dysfunctional... but I do believe from time to time it is dysfunctional in the sense it doesn't work".
  • BBC News 23 May 2006

Speech to the Labour Party conference in Manchester, 28 September 2006. BBC News 28 September 2006

• Leadership isn't a zero sum game. When one of us shines it doesn't diminish the others, it reflects on all of us.

• It's not Muslims versus the rest of us. It's evil terrorists on one side against all civilised people on the other.

• If we in this movement are going to ask the decent, silent majority of Muslim men - and women - to have the courage to face down the extremist bullies, then we need to have the courage and character to stand shoulder to shoulder with them doing it.

• Until Roy Hattersley said he would shoot himself if I became prime minister, I had not been able to see any possible advantage in standing.

• You don't have to love everything George W. Bush stands for to hate everything that Osama Bin Laden stands for.