Member for Kingswood since 1992. Committees: Secretary, All-Party Disablement Group; Member, Trade and Industry Select Committee. Political career: Member, Avon County Council 1981-93; Leader, Labour Group 1986-92; Chair, Finance and Administration Committee 1983-86, Deputy Leader 1985-86; Parliamentary Candidate for Kingswood 1987 and Weston-Super-Mare 1983. Special political interests: Economic policy, local government, Third World development, disability rights. Profession/Trade: Former economist; university lecturer. Education: Huddersfield New College; Bristol University, BSc; Sussex University, MPhil. Affiliations: Vice-President, Bristol Action for South Africa since 1986. Hobbies: Travel, food, cooking.
b. 4 July 1948, Huddersfield.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	26,491	47	-7.8	28,903	54.9
Conservative	18,618	33	4.7	14,941	28.4
Lib Dem	9,089	16.1	1.4	7,747	14.7
UKIP	1,444	2.6	0.5	1,085	2.1
Independent	669	1.2	-	-	-
Majority	7,873	14.0		13,962	26.5
Turnout	56,311	66.7	1.3	52,676	65.4