Member for Redcar since 2001. Committees: Member, Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Human Rights; Chair, All-Party Group on Burma; Vice-Chair, PLP Departmental Committee on Home Affairs; Member, PLP Departmental Committee on Regional Affairs; Member, Commonwealth Parliamentary Union (UK Branch); Member of various Standing Committees, including: Proceeds of Crime Bill 2001-02, Criminal Justice Bill 2003; Member of various All-Party Parliamentary Committees, including: Steel Industry, Fishing Industry. Profession/Trade: QC. Title/Honours/Decorations: QC 2000. Education: Chadderton Grammar School for Girls; University of Newcastle, LLB (Hons) 2:1. Affiliations: Vice-President, Association of Women Barristers; Vice-Chair, Society of Labour Lawyers; Member, Criminal Bar Association; Member, Fabian Society; Member, Co-operative Party. Author and Co-author of numerous works, including: (Co-author) Response to Runciman (1993); Economical with the Proof (1993); The Judiciary (1992); (Author) Profile of Millicent Fawcett (2002); Rape in Court (1998). Hobbies: Writing, running, travel.
Widow with two stepsons.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	19,968	51.4	-8.9	23,026	60.3
Lib Dem	7,852	20.2	7.6	4,817	12.6
Conservative	6,954	17.9	-7.2	9,583	25.1
Independent	2,379	6.1	-	-	-
BNP	985	2.5	-	-	-
UKIP	564	1.5	-	-	-
Soc Lab	159	0.4	-1.6	772	2
Majority	12,116	31.2		13,443	35.2
Turnout	38,861	58.0	0.3	38,198	57.7