Jonathan Reynolds was born in Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear to Keith and Judith Reynolds.

Reynolds studied Politics and Modern History at the University of Manchester and BPP Law School (Manchester). After leaving university Reynolds worked for the council and (former MP) James Purnell, before beginning training as a solicitor.

In 2007, Reynolds was elected to Tameside Council for the ward of Longdendale.

Reynolds served on Labour’s National Executive Committee from 2003 to 2005.

Reynolds worked for four years as a political assistant for the previous Stalybridge and Hyde MP James Purnell and was selected to replace Purnell after a controversial selection process

In the General Election of May 2010, Reynolds was elected as MP for Stalybridge and Hyde.

Under Ed Miliband, Reynolds was appointed Shadow Justice and Constitutional Affairs Whip. He was later appointed Miliband’s Parliamentary Private Secretary and Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change. As Shadow Energy Minister, he focused on fuel poverty, energy efficiency, and solar energy.

In September 2015, Reynolds was made a Shadow Minister for Transport with responsibility for rail. He resigned the position in January 2016, but returned to the front bench later that year as Shadow City Minister.

Reynolds was appointed a member of the BIS Select Committee in 2016. He questioned Mike Ashley during the committee’s inquiry into working practices at Sports Direct. Reynolds is the Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Manufacturing Group, Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism, and former Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces. Reynolds is Chair of Christians on the Left and a vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel.

Reynolds has been the Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy since November 2022.