Member for Liverpool, Riverside since 1997. Committees: Chair, Parliamentary Labour Party Regional Government Group; Member, Transport. Political career: Leader, Lancashire County Council 1981-97; Member, Lancashire County Council 1970-97; ; Vice-Chair, Lancashire Enterprises 1983-97; Chair, North West Regional Association 1992-93. Special political interests: Regional economic development, devolution, local government, public services, Middle East, transport. Profession/Trade: Open University tutor. Education: Hull University, BA (Hons); York University, MPhil. Affiliations: Co-operative Party; TGWU.
b. 14 November 1945, Manchester. Married with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour Co-op	17,951	57.6	-13.8	18,201	71.4
Lib Dem	7,737	24.8	8.1	4,251	16.7
Conservative	2,843	9.1	0.7	2,142	8.4
Green	1,707	5.5	-	-	-
Soc Lab	498	1.6	-	-	-
UKIP	455	1.5	-	-	-
Soc Alliance	-	-	-	909	3.6
Majority	10,214	32.7	-	13,950	54.7
Turnout	31,191	41.5	7.4	25,503	34.1