Member for Southend West since 1983. Committees: Member, Chairmens' Panel since 2001; Member, Health Select Committee since 1998; Member, President 1912 Club since 1996. Political career: Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michael Portillo at Treasury 1992-94, Department of Employment 1994, Department of the Environment 1990-92, the Department of Transport 1988-90; Councillor, Redbridge Council 1982-86. Special political interests: Health, education, transport, environment, Pro-Life Movement. Education: St Bonaventure's Grammar School; Bournemouth College of Technology, BSc Economics. Affiliations: Freeman City of London. Author of: The Basildon Experience. Hobbies: Socialising, reading, writing, travel, keeping animals, gardening.
b. 26 March 1952, Plaistow, London. Married with five children.

2005				2001
CON HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Conservative	18,408	46.22	-0.11	17,313	46.3
Lib Dem	9,449	23.72	-1.21	9,319	24.9
Labour	9,072	22.78	-2.30	9,372	25.1
UKIP	1,349	3.39	-0.28	1,371	3.7
Independent	745	1.87	-	-	-
English Democrats Party	701	1.76	-	-	-
Max Power Party	106	0.27	-	-	-
Majority	8,959	22.4		7,941	21.2
Turnout	39,830	61.3	3.05	37,375	58.3