Daniel Owen Woolgar Jarvis was born in Nottingham on 30 November 1972,[3] the son of a lecturer at a teacher-training college and a probation officer, both Labour Party members.

[11] He was deployed to Afghanistan twice, first as a member of the team making the first reconnaissance trips to Helmand Province in 2005 to 2006, in preparation for a decision on whether to commit British troops there.

[16] Shortly before the 2010 general election, Jarvis was shortlisted for the Labour Party selection in the South Wales seat of Islwyn.

Jarvis was selected as the Labour candidate for Barnsley Central on 27 January 2011, following the resignation of Eric Illsley who stood down after being convicted of fraud for his part in the United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal.

An eliminating ballot was held and at the penultimate stage Jarvis was tied with local councillor Linda Burgess, each several votes behind Richard Burgon.

London Regional Director, Ken Clark, put two pieces of paper into the hat of Phil Dilks, the Press Officer: one that read "Loser" and one "Winner".

[19] On his selection, he resigned his commission in order to stand in the by-election;[5] he gave his campaign the codename 'Operation Honey Badger', referring to a famously fierce animal and signifying his determination to fight for the people of Barnsley.

[20] During his maiden speech on the 2011 budget, Jarvis called for a change in economic policy including "a plan to get jobs and to help families feeling the squeeze".

He also referred to Parachute Regiment colleagues who had been killed in action and argued that the UK and US should put forward reconciliation in Afghanistan.

[24] However, he quickly announced that he was not going to run, saying that he needed to put his young family first; he had recently remarried after losing his first wife to cancer.

The plan outlined aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, creating high-paid jobs, and reducing income inequality.

He committed the region to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, a full decade ahead of the national target.

His efforts were part of a broader vision to reduce travel times, boost economic growth, and improve transport links between major northern cities.

The group focused on providing a coordinated response to the pandemic's impact on the economy and society, ensuring that South Yorkshire emerged resilient from the crisis.

[47] During post-pandemic, Jarvis established the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund, a £500 million program intended to stimulate infrastructure, transport and employment.

[51] On 9 July, three women in Bushey, Hertsmere were injured and later died of wounds sustained by a crossbow attack carried out by a 26-year old Kyle Clifford who was promptly detained by the police.

[52][53] Jarvis met his first wife, Caroline, in 2000, when she was working as a personal chef for the family of General Sir Mike Jackson.

The book chronicles his time in the British Army and how he dealt with the diagnosis and untimely death of his first wife, Caroline Jarvis.