Member for Wakefield since 2005. Political career: Councillor, Islington Council 1998–2005; Leader, Labour Group, Islington Council 2000–04. Special political interests: Disability, child poverty, education, employment, regeneration. Profession/Trade: Lecturer. Education: London School of Economics, MSc European Studies; Pembroke College, Oxford, BA Modern Languages. Languages spoken: French, Italian. Affiliations: GMB, UNISON, Amnesty International, OXFAM, RNID, Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.
b. 2 December, Coventry. Married with one child.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	18,802	43.3	-6.6	20,592	49.9
Conservative	13,648	31.5	0.8	12,638	30.6
Lib Dem	7,063	16.3	3.9	5,097	12.4
BNP	1,328	3.1	-	-	-
Green	1,297	3.0	0.4	1,075	2.6
UKIP	467	1.1	-0.6	677	1.6
Eng Dem	356	0.8	-	-	-
Soc Alt	319	0.7	-	-	-
Soc Lab	101	0.2	-1.3	634	1.5
Soc Alliance	-	-	-	541	1.3
Majority	5,154	11.9		7,954	19.3
Turnout	43,381	59.3	4.8	41,254	54.5