Member for West Bromwich West since 2000. Committees: Member, Northern Ireland Affairs Committee; Member APC Football Select Committee on Football Finances; Secretary APG Cast Metal Industry. Political career: Deputy Leader, Sandwell MBC 1997-2000; Councillor, Sandwell MBC 1991-2000; Political Organiser, Co-operative Party 1982-2000. Special political interests: Co-operatives, Europe, Northern Ireland, sport, manufacturing. Profession/Trade: Librarian, political organiser. Education: Cheltenham Grammar School; University of Exeter, Honours Degree, Economic History; Loughborough College of Librarianship, Postgraduate Diploma in Librarianship. Hobbies: Football, swimming, dog walking.
b. 11 December 1945, Salisbury, Wiltshire. Married with one stepson.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour and Co-operative	18,951	54.3	-6.5	19,352	60.8
Conservative	8,057	23.1	-2.0	7,997	25.1
Lib Dem	3,583	10.3	3.5	2,168	6.8
BNP	3,456	9.9	5.4	1,428	4.5
UKIP	870	2.5	0.9	499	1.6
Soc Lab	-	-	-	396	1.2
Majority	10,894	31.2		11,355	35.7
Turnout	34,917	52.3	4.6	31,840	47.7