John Reid, new defence minister, a Blair loyalist

Former health secretary John Reid, named as defence minister in Tony Blair's new government, is one of Blair's loyal supporters.

Former health secretary John Reid, named Friday as defence minister in Tony Blair's new government, is one of the British prime minister's most loyal supporters in the cabinet and known for his combative character.

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The 57-year-old Scotsman has held numerous government posts since the first of the Labour party's three successive elections triumphs in 1997, including secretary of state for defence, transport minister and Northern Ireland secretary.

But Reid is above all known for his quick repartee, which along with his loyalty to Blair, has led him to be brought out to face tough interviews with broadcast journalists.

One well-known BBC television journalist, Jeremy Paxman, recently described Reid as being the government's "attack dog."

Reid began his career as a Communist party activist and trade union organiser.

He gained a doctorate in economic history from Scotland's Stirling University, and before entering politics he worked as a research officer for the Labour party and as an adviser to then Labour party leader Neil Kinnock.

Elected to parliament in 1987, he became secretary of state for Scotland in 1997, a post he held until succeeding Peter Mandelson as secretary of state for Northern Ireland in 2001.

Born on May 8, 1947, the son of a postman and a factory worker, Reid had two children from his first wife, Cathie McGowan, who died of heart failure in 1998.

He remarried in 2002, to Brazilian filmmaker Carine Adler, who persuaded him to give up his heavy smoking habit.