John Battle (politician)

John Battle (born April 26, 1951, died May 17, 2007) was a British Labour Party politician. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds West from 1987 until his death in 2007.

Battle was educated at Ampleforth College, a Roman Catholic boarding school, and at Leeds University, where he studied English Literature. Before entering parliament, he worked as a community worker and was involved in local government.

During his time in parliament, Battle was known for his strong commitment to social justice and his advocacy for the poor and disadvantaged. He served as a minister in various departments under Tony Blair, including the Department for Trade and Industry and the Department for International Development.

Battle was a devout Catholic and often spoke of the influence of his faith on his politics. He was also a vocal campaigner on issues such as debt relief for developing countries and environmental protection.

Following his death from cancer in 2007, a by-election was held for his Leeds West seat, which was won by Rachel Reeves of the Labour Party.