John is the current MP for Wentworth and Dearne – a seat he’s represented since 1997 – and the current Shadow Defence Secretary since April 2020 after being appointed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Previously John spent nearly four years as the Shadow Secretary of State for Housing under then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the Shadow Secretary of State for Health under Ed Miliband until 2011. John held several roles in the last Labour government such as Minister for Housing and Planning and Financial Secretary to the Treasury under then Prime Minister Tony Blair.