Member for Sunderland North since 1992. Committees: Appointed to Council of Europe and Western European Union; Secretary, Miners' Parliamentary Group. Special political interests: Transport, energy, social security, employment, animal welfare, access to the countryside. Profession/Trade: Fitter. Education: State Grammar School. Hobbies: Fell-walking, motor-cycling, local history, reading.
b. 17 July 1941, Sunderland. Married with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	15,719	54.4	-8.3	18,685	62.7
Conservative	5,724	19.8	1.9	5,331	17.9
Lib Dem	4,277	14.8	2.7	3,599	12.1
Independent	2,057	7.1	2.0	1,518	5.1
BNP	1,136	3.9	1.6	687	2.3
Majority	9,995	34.6		13,354	44.8
Turnout	28,913	49.7	0.7	29,820	49