(John) Steven Bassam, Baron Bassam of Brighton (born 11 June 1953) is a British Labour and Co-operative politician and member of the House of Lords. Having studied at the University of Sussex and University of Kent, where he received a Masters in social work, Bassam began his career as a social worker at Camden Borough council. He moved on to other roles in local government, serving as Head of Environmental Health and Consumer Affairs at the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, later Local Government Association 1988-97.