Member for Tyneside North since 1997. Committees: Member, Home Affairs Select Committee 1993-94; Chair, Parliamentary Labour Party Home Affairs Committee 1992-94. Political career: Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 2001-02; Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 1998-2001; Chief Secretary to the Treasury 1988; Minister, Ministry for Education and Employment 1997-99; Shadow Minister for Training and Employment 1996-97; Shadow Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment 1995-96; Opposition Whip 1994-95; Member for Wallsend 1992; Member, North Tyneside Council 1980-92; Deputy Leader 1985-92; Chair, Association of Metropolitan Authorities Education Committee 1990-92; Leader, Council of Local Education Authorities 1990-92; Parliamentary Candidate for Hexham 1983. Special political interests: Education, home affairs, local and regional government, trade, industry, employment. Profession/Trade: Senior lecturer in law. Education: Chester College of Further Education; Liverpool Polytechnic, LLB. Affiliations: Member, UNISON; Fellow, Royal Society of Arts. Hobbies: Travel, cinema, reading, fell-walking.
b. 13 April 1953, Wolverhampton.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	22,882	62.0	-7.5	26,027	69.5
Conservative	7,845	21.2	6.7	5,459	14.6
Lib Dem	6,212	16.8	4.4	4,649	12.4
UKIP	-	-	-	770	2.1
Soc Alliance	-	-	-	324	0.9
Soc Lab	-	-	-	240	0.6
Majority	15,037	40.7		20,568	54.9
Turnout	36,939	57.2	-0.5	37,469	57.7