Member for Inverclyde since 2001. Committees: Member, Scottish Grand Committee, European Standing Committee, Joint Committee on the Consolidation of Bills; Member, All-Party Ship Building Repair Group, All-Party Human Rights Group; Vice-Chair, Brain Injury Group. Political career: Parliamentary Private Secretary to Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister for Pensions since 2003; Councillor, London Borough of Merton 1998-2001; Research Assistant for Siobhan McDonagh MP 1997-2001; Director of Christian Socialist Movement 1994-97. Special political interests: Europe, small businesses, shipbuilding. Profession/Trade: Researcher. Education: Notre Dame High School, Greenock; Gregorian University, Rome; Franciscan Study Centre, Canterbury. Languages spoken: Italian. Affiliations: Fabian Society, Christian Socialists, Amnesty International. Hobbies: Watching football; spending time with extended family, most of whom live locally.
b. Greenock. Single.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	18,318	50.7	-	14,929	52.5
SNP	7,059	19.6	-	4,248	14.9
Lib Dem	6,123	17	-	5,039	17.7
Conservative	3,692	10.2	-	3,000	10.6
Scot Soc	906	2.5	-	1,203	4.2
Majority	11,259	31.2	-	9,890	34.8
Turnout	36,098	60.9	-	28,419	59.3