John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan - Government Career - Chairman of The Labour Party and Minister Without Portfolio

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.

As a purely political post his trouble-shooting skills were employed as the Labour Government's chief spokesperson earning him the nickname "Minister for the Today Programme". (the Today Programme being the BBC's morning current affairs radio show)

One of Reid's key challenges was to keep the trade unions (the Labour Party's main funders) on-side 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).

Read more about this topic:  John Reid, Baron Reid Of Cardowan, Government Career

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