A lifetime of public service - Dan Jarvis MP

Campaigning with the local Labour team in Brierley.

Dan grew up in Nottingham and attended Rushcliffe Comprehensive School before studying International Politics and Strategic Studies at Aberystwyth University.

After graduating, he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into The Parachute Regiment.

He served as an Army officer for 14 years, deploying to Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. After being promoted to the rank of Major, he worked at the Ministry of Defence’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood and the Army’s Headquarters in Salisbury.

In 2011, Dan was elected as the Labour Member of Parliament for the Barnsley Central constituency (now Barnsley North).

A very active constituency MP, Dan holds regular advice surgeries for his constituents, and hosts public meetings on a range of important local issues, such as SEND provision and mineworkers’ pensions.

He is also very closely involved in community life across the borough. Shortly after being elected, he launched the ‘Proud of Barnsley’ campaign and continues to host the Proud of Barnsley Awards each year. He also serves as a patron for Barnsley Hospice and Barnsley Youth Choir.

Offering advice to residents in Lundwood.

After embarking on a 30km walk to raise money for Barnsley Hospice.

From 2018 to 2022, Dan served as the first Mayor of South Yorkshire.

During his four years as Mayor, he led the region through severe flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic, while securing £1.92 billion in additional funding from central government to invest in South Yorkshire’s economy, transport, and communities.

Speaking at South Yorkshire's first Economic Summit.

After securing £12 million for transport and travel in South Yorkshire.

After the Labour Party won the 2024 General Election, Dan became our country’s Security Minister.

In June 2026, Dan was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence, before returning to serve as Security Minister in Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government.

As Security Minister, Dan works alongside colleagues in the intelligence and security services, policing, and government, leading work on counterterrorism, cybersecurity, serious organised crime, and economic crime.

You can find out about his work as Security Minister here.

Co-chairing the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with President Zelensky.

In his very limited spare time, Dan enjoys reading, running, and supporting Barnsley FC – all of which can be hard work at times! He has run the London marathon numerous times to raise money for Cancer Research UK and Barnsley Hospice.

He lives in Barnsley with his wife, three children, and their dog, Juno– a mostly friendly Springer Spaniel!

You can keep up with Dan’s work by signing up to his monthly newsletter.