John is a Professorial Research Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Relations and Director of the Centre for English Identity and Politics at the University of Southampton.
He was Labour MP for Southampton Itchen (1992-2015) and served as a Minister (1997-2003 and 2007-2010). John’s final Ministerial role was as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He chaired the Home Affairs Select Committee from 2003 – 2007). Outside the University he was a founding Director of the Southern Policy Centre, an independent regional think tank.