John was a Labour MP for Southampton Itchen for 23 years. He was a minister in the last Labour government for 10 years and held Cabinet rank in 2 departments: Innovation, Universities and Skills, and Communities and Local Government.
He also chaired the Home Affairs Select Committee.
John established the Centre in 2015, at the University of Winchester. The Centre has been based at Southampton University since 2019.
John contributes to the University KEE work, drawing on his ministerial experience of the relationship between academic research and public policy.