Member for Aberdeen South since 1997. Committees: Member, Work and Pensions Select Committee; Member, Chairmen's Panel. Political career: Held most positions at branch and constituency levels; served on a number of equal opportunities committees; active in Educational Institute of Scotland from 1982; Founder Member of Angus Access Panel; joined Labour Party 1983. Special political interests: Welfare, broadcasting, disability. Profession/Trade: Principal Teacher of English, Arbroath Academy 1993-97. Education: Brechin High School; University of Aberdeen, MA History, Politics and English. Title/Honours/Decorations: Disabled Scot of the Year 1988. Hobbies: Reading, cinema, theatre, public speaking.
b. 6 December 1955, Brechin, Angus. Single.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	15,272	36.7	-3.1	14,696	39.8
Lib Dem	13,924	33.5	5.6	10,308	27.9
Conservative	7,134	17.1	-2.1	7,098	19.2
SNP	4,120	9.9	-1.7	4,293	11.6
Green	768	1.9	1.9	-	-
Scot Soc	403	1	-0.3	495	1.3
Majority	1,348	3.2		4,388	11.9
Turnout	41,621	62.1	-0.5	36,890	62.6