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John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan Quotes

John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan PC , is a British Labour Party politician. He was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010, and served in the Cabinet under Prime Minister Tony Blair in a number of positions. He was Health Secretary from 2003 to 2005, Defence Secretary from 2005 to 2006, and Home Secretary from 2006 to 2007.

Born in Bellshill to working-class, Roman Catholic parents, Reid first became involved in politics when he joined the Young Communist League in 1972. 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 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. He later stepped down as an MP in 2010, and was 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. Wikipedia  

✵ 8. May 1947
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John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan: 8 quotes0 likes

Famous John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan Quotes

“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.”

John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan

Speech to the Labour Party conference in Manchester, 28 September 2006. BBC News 28 September 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5388112.stm

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

John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan

Speech to the Labour Party conference in Manchester, 28 September 2006. BBC News 28 September 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5388112.stm

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

John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan

Speech to the Labour Party conference in Manchester, 28 September 2006. BBC News 28 September 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5388112.stm

“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."”

John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan

BBC News 23 May 2006

“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.”

John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan

Speech to the Labour Party conference in Manchester, 28 September 2006. BBC News 28 September 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5388112.stm

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

John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan

Speech to the Labour Party conference in Manchester, 28 September 2006. BBC News 28 September 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5388112.stm

“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.”

John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan

Of the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate; BBC News 23 May 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5007148.stm

“It's not my job to manage this department - it's my job to lead this department.”

John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan

BBC News 23 May 2006

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