Alan Johnson did not have an easy childhood; orphaned at 13, Alan and his elder sister moved to a council flat in Battersea, a traumatic change from their previous Notting Hill address. They faced hostility from other tenants, his sister became the primary care-giver, and they were often victims of burglary and vandalism.

He did not immediately go into politics, first working in Tesco and then becoming a postman at age 18. Alan became the youngest General Secretary of the Union of Communication Workers in history when he was elected in 1992, and he was then elected as a Labour MP in 1997.

​Alan became the youngest General Secretary in the history of the Union of Communication Workers when he was elected to the post in January 1992 and went on to be elected as a Labour MP in 1997.

Alan Johnson | Politics

Throughout his two-decade long political career, Alan worked as Education Secretary, Health Secretary, and Home Secretary, as well as being an MP for Kingston-Upon-Hull West and Hessle.

He was first appointed as the Private Secretary to fellow MP Dawn Primarolo, before becoming involved in the Department of Trade and Industry in 1999. In 2003 he became the Minister for Higher Education, followed by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions the following year. In 2005 he became Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, but just one year later he became the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.

Following Tony Blair’s resignation in 2006, Alan publicly stated he wished to run for leader of the Labour Party, but at the end of the year he told the BBC that he would be supporting Gordon Brown and instead standing for Deputy Leader, a role he narrowly missed out on.

In Gordon Brown’s first Cabinet in 2007, Alan became Secretary of State for Health, followed by Home Secretary in 2009. In 2010, there was a lot of speculation that Alan would stand as a candidate for the London Mayoral election, but instead he stood to support a fellow candidate.

When Labour were beaten in 2010 and the Conservative’s moved into power, Alan was chosen as the Shadow Chancellor in Ed Miliband’s first Shadow Cabinet, but only stayed in the job for three months, being replaced by Ed Balls.

Subjects Alan was vocal about during his career include the Iraq War, literacy and numeracy skills in children, the NHS, education, drug use, electoral reform, trade unionism, the British Fishermen’s Association, and Brexit.

Alan Johnson | Author

Alan is also a very successful author of both fiction and non-fiction books.

His journey from growing up in a “condemned slum” in London, and being orphaned as a teenager, all the way to his work in Parliament, was detailed in his award-winning trilogy of memoirs:

– This Boy (2013): this book won the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize, and Britain’s top political writing award, the Orwell Prize.

– Please Mr Postman (2014): this book won the National Book Club Award for Best Biography.

– The Long and Winding Road (2016): this book won the Parliamentary Book Award for Best Memoir.

He would also release a fourth memoir titled In My Life – A Music Memoir in 2018, launched at Abbey Road Studios where the Beatles made almost all of their records – did we mention Alan is a huge Beatles fan?

As well as his memoirs, Alan penned a biography of former Prime Minister Harold Wilson, in Harold Wilson: Twentieth Century Man in 2024 which made it onto Amazon’s “Political Leader Biographies” bestseller list.

But it’s not just factual books Alan is good at. As of 2024, he has written three thrillers:

– The Late Train to Gipsy Hill (2021)

– One of Our Ministers Is Missing (2022)

– Death on the Thames (2024)

Alan Johnson | Speaker

Alan Johnson is now a highly respected political speaker, appearing at business and political after-dinner events, with his experience in government making him a knowledgeable and captivating speaker.

Alan Johnson | Speaking Topics

– The Labour Party

– Politics in the UK

– Working Class Issues

– Social Mobility

– Brexit and European Relations

– Healthcare and Welfare Reforms

– Education and Skills Development

– Tackling Poverty and Inequality

– Conflict Resolution

– International Relations and Diplomacy

– Leadership and Public Service

– Trade and Climate Change

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book politician, author and speaker Alan Johnson for your next live event.

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