Member for Aberdeen North since 2005. Member for Aberdeen Central since 1997. Committees: Member, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee; Secretary, Trade Union Group Labour MPs; Secretary, All-Party Fisheries Group; Treasurer, All-Party Media Group; Secretary, GMB Parliamentary Group. Political career: MP, Aberdeen Central and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ian McCartney DTI and Cabinet Office 1997-2001; MP, Aberdeen South 1987-1992. Special political interests: Energy, childcare, families, mental health, employment. Profession/Trade: Solicitor. Education: Ainslie Park Secondary School; Leith Academy; Dundee University, LLB.
b. 13 April 1949. Divorced with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	15,557	42.5	-0.8	13,157	43.3
Lib Dem	8,762	23.9	7.5	4,991	16.4
SNP	8,168	22.3	-6.4	8,708	28.7
Conservative	3,456	9.4	-0.6	3,047	10
Scot Soc	691	1.9	0.4	454	1.5
Majority	6,795	18.5		4,449	14.7
Turnout	36,634	55.7	-1.8	30,357	57.6