Member for Cardiff West since 2001. Committees: Member, Public Administration Committee since 2001; Member, Special Standing Committees on the State Pensions Credit Bill 2002, Finance Bill 2002, Adoption and Children's Bill 2001-02; appointed to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee 2002; Chair and Founding Member of All-Party Parliamentary Group on Muscular Dystrophy; Associate Member, British-Irish Parliamentary Association. Political career: Special Advisor to Rhodri Morgan, Welsh Assembly 2000-01; Agent and Campaign Manager to Rhodri Morgan during Welsh Labour Leadership contests 1999-2000; Constituency-based Researcher for Rhodri Morgan 1995-2000; Member, Cardiff City and Cardiff County Councils (Chair: Finance Committee, Economic Scrutiny Committee; Vice-Chair, Economic Development). Profession/Trade: Teacher. Education: St Alban's Roman Catholic Comprehensive School, Pontypool; Pembroke College, Oxford, PPE; University of Wales, Cardiff; University of Glamorgan, PGCE, MSc Education and Management. Affiliations: Trade Union Group of MPs; Labour Friends of India; Executive Member, Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform; Member, TGWU, Fabian Society, Socialist Health Alliance, Canton Labour Club. Hobbies: Supporter of Cardiff Rugby Club and Wales.
b. 16 October 1959. Cwmbran, South Wales. Married with one child.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	15,729	45.5	-9.0	18,594	54.6
Conservative	7,562	21.9	-0.5	7,273	21.3
Lib Dem	6,060	17.5	4.4	4,458	13.1
Plaid Cymru	4,316	12.5	2.8	3,296	9.7
UKIP	727	2.1	0.7	462	1.4
Vote Dream	167	0.5
Majority	8,167	23.6	-	11,321	33.2
Turnout	34,561	57.7	-0.7	34,083	58.4