Member for Staffordshire Moorlands since 1997. Committees: Member, Education Employment and Select Committee; Member, Selection Committee; elected PLP Parliamentary Committee; Secretary, PLP Backbench Education and Employment Committee; Member, Women's Group; Member, Civil Right's Group; Member, Waterways Group; Member, Personal Social Services Group. Political career: Deputy Leader and Chief Whip of Labour Group; Councillor, Wandsworth Borough Council 1982-86; Member, Labour Party since 1965; elected Member of Parliament 1997. Special political interests: Education, health, civil liberties. Profession/Trade: UNISON Parliamentary Officer. Education: LSE London University, BSc Economics; London University MA Area Studies. Hobbies: Cycling, gardening, keeping fit, theatre, family pursuits.
b. 24 September 1950. Married with one child.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	18,126	41.0	-8.0	20,940	49
Conservative	15,688	35.5	0.1	15,066	35.3
LibDem	6,927	15.7	1.8	5,928	13.9
UKIP	3,512	7.9	6.2	760	1.8
Majority	2,438	5.5		5,838	13.7
Turnout	44,253	64.0	0.1	42,658	63.9