Member for Middlesbrough since 1983. Committees: Chair, House of Commons Commission since 1999; Chair, Finance and Services Select Committee since 1999; Member, Ecclesiastical Committee. Political career: Second Church Estates Commissioner since 1997; Frontbench Spokesperson on Trade and Industry 1992-97; Frontbench Spokesperson on Northern Ireland 1984-87; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon Roy Hattersley 1983-84; Member, Newcastle City Council 1980-83; Parliamentary Candidate, Hexham 1979. Special political interests: Europe, Middle East. Profession/Trade: Barrister. Title/Honours/Decorations: Freedom of the City of London 2003. Education: Hookergate Grammar School, Durham; Gray's Inn, London. Languages spoken: French (fluent). Affiliations: Member, Fabian Society, Society of Labour Lawyers, Co-operative Society, GMB. Author of: The Honoured Society (novel); Binkies Revolution (novel); Pathway to the Euro (pamphlet); Tony Really Loves Me (autobiography); When Salem Comes to the Boro (factual account of Cleveland child abuse crisis); How to Abolish the Lords (Fabian tract); Days that Used to be (novel); Paris 69 (novel). Hobbies: Short-story and novel writing.
b. 16 May 1938, Co Durham. Married with three children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	18,562	57.8	-9.8	22,783	67.6
Lib Dem	5,995	18.7	8.2	3,512	10.4
Conservative	5,263	16.4	-2.8	6,453	19.1
BNP	819	2.6	-	-	-
UK Independence Party	768	2.4	-	-	-
Independent	503	1.6	-	-	-
No description	230	0.7	-	-	-
Soc Alliance	-	-	-	577	1.7
Soc Lab	-	-	-	392	1.2
Majority	12,567	39.1		16,330	48.4
Turnout	32,140	48.8	-1.0	33,717	49.8