Jeremy Bray was born 29 June 1930, the son of the Reverend Arthur Henry Bray and Mrs Edith Muriel Bray. He was educated at Aberystwyth Grammar School and Kingswood School, then Jesus College, Cambridge (PhD 1956). In 1953 he married Elizabeth (née Trowell); they had four daughters.

Initially Bray pursued an academic career, researching pure mathematics at Cambridge between 1953 and 1955, then spending a year at Harvard University [United States] as Choate Fellow (1955-1956). However, on returning from Harvard he became Technical Officer at the Wilton Works of ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries Limited), until 1962. During this time Bray also moved into politics: he contested the seat of Thirsk and Malton [Yorkshire] in 1959, then became Labour MP for Middlesbrough West (1962-1970), Motherwell and Wishaw [Lanarkshire, Scotland], (October 1974-1983), and finally for Motherwell South, from 1983 until his retirement in 1997.

In 1966 Bray received his first ministerial post, becoming Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Power, (1966-1967), before transferring to the Ministry of Technology as Joint Parliamentary Secretary, (1967-1969). He then resigned in order to publish "Decision in Government", and in the next year lost his seat. He re-entered Parliament in 1974, later becoming Opposition spokesman on science and technology, a post which he held from 1983 to 1992.

Bray served as a member of various Parliamentary committees, including: the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries (1962-1964); the Estimates Committee (1964-1966); the Expenditure Committee, (1978-1979); the Select Committee on Treasury and Civil Service, (1979-1983), acting as Chairman of the Sub-committee between 1981 and 1982; the Select Committee on Science and Technology, (1992); the Board of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (1993). Bray also served as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of various groups, including: the Labour, Science and Technology Group, (1964-1966); Economic Affairs Estimates Sub-Committee, (1964-1966); Parliamentary Mental Health Group; Vice President, Parliament and Science Committee; British-Chinese Parliamentary Group. He was also Chairman of the Fabian Society (1971-1972), and Deputy Chairman of Christian Aid (1972-1984).

Bray's publications include: Decision in Government (1970); Production Purpose and Structure (1982); Fabian pamphlets and articles.

Jeremy Bray died in June 2002.