Member for City of Durham since 2005. Political career: Councillor: Oxford, Newcastle; Chair, Newcastle East and Wallsend; Chair, Durham. Special political interests: Trades unions, child poverty, education, housing, regeneration. Profession/Trade: Professor, Social Policy, and Associate Dean, University of Northumbria. Education: University of Ulster, BSc, PhD Social Science. Affiliations: GMB, Save the Children, Child Poverty Action Group. Hobbies: Music.
b. 16 August 1957, Belfast. Married with one child.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	20,928	47.2	-8.9	23,254	56.1
Lib Dem	17,654	39.8	16.1	9,813	23.7
Conservative	4,179	9.4	-7.9	7,167	17.3
Veritas	1,603	3.6	-	-	-
UKIP	-	-	-	1,252	3
Majority	3,274	7.4		13,441	32.4
Turnout	44,364	62.1	2.5	41,486	59.6