Member for Easington since 1987. Committees: Member, Office of Deputy Prime Minister; Member, Speakers Panel; Member, Chairman's Panel since 2000; Vice-Chair, All-Party Aluminium Industry Group since 1999; Chair, Northern Regional Group of Labour MPs 1999; Member, Labour Party Departmental Committees for Environment, Transport and the Regions since 1997; Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs since 1997; Trade and Industry since 1997; Vice-Chair, Foreign Affairs, Environment, Northern Ireland (Northern and Overseas Development 1994-97); Chair, All-Party Local Government Councillors Group, All-Party British Czech and Slovak Country Group; Vice-Chair, Romanian Group and St Helena Group. Political career: Opposition Whip, Foreign Affairs, Environment, Northern Ireland (Northern and Overseas Development) 1994-97; Member, Aycliffe and Peterlee Development Corporation 1980-87; Leader, Easington District Council 1979-87, Chair 1975-76, Councillor 1973-87; Member, Northumbrian Water Authority 1977-83; Councillor, Easington Rural District Council 1970-73. Special political interests: Energy, environment, coal industry. Profession/Trade: Colliery electrician. Education: Murton Council Infant, Junior and Senior Schools; Easington and Durham Technical College. Affiliations: Hon Parliamentary Advisor, National Association of Licensed House Managers, National Association of Councillors. Hobbies: Jack Russell terriers, walking, travel.
b. 6 July, 1943, Newcastle. Single.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	22,733	71.4	-5.5	25,360	76.8
Lib Dem	4,097	12.9	2.5	3,408	10.3
Conservative	3,400	10.7	0.3	3,411	10.3
BNP	1,042	3.3	-	-	-
Soc Lab	583	1.8	-0.7	831	2.5
Majority	18,636	58.5		21,949	66.5
Turnout	31,855	52.1	-1.5	33,010	53.6