Member for Bury North since 1997. Committees: Select Committee on Deregulation; Labour Backbench Committees on Trade and Industry, Education and Environment; Secretary, All-Party Group on Adult Education; Secretary, APPG, Globe UK. Political career: Councillor, Calderdale MBC 1982-97; Chair of Education Committee; Chair of Highways Committee; Parliamentary Candidate, Calder Vale 1992 and 1987. Special political interests: Environment, education, transport, overseas development, trade and industry. Profession/Trade: College manager. Education: Univeristy of London; University of Leeds, BA, MPhil, PGCE. Languages spoken: French. Affiliations: TGWU. Hobbies: Cycling, walking.
b. 3 August 1949, Bury, Lancashire. Married with three children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	19,130	43.1	-8.1	22,945	51.2
Conservative	16,204	36.5	-0.1	16,413	36.6
Lib Dem	6,514	14.7	2.6	5,430	12.1
BNP	1,790	4.0	-	-	-
UKIP	476	1.1	-	-	-
Veritas	153	0.3	-	-	-
Soc Lab	107	0.2	-	-	-
Majority	2,926	6.6	-	6,532	14.6
Turnout	44,374	61.4	-1.6	44,788	63