Member for Poplar and Canning Town since 1997. Committees: Co Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fire Safety 1999-2001; Chair, APP Thames Gateway Group 1998-2001; Joint Vice-Chair, APPG on Leasehold Reform 1998-2001; Joint Vice-Chair, APP Police Group 1998-2001; Member, APPG on Animal Welfare 1998-2001; Member, APPG on AIDS/HIV 1998-2001; Member APPG on Rwanda/Genocide 1999-2001. Political career: Vice-Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household since 2003; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Alan Milburn, Department of Health 1999-2001; PPS to Alan Milburn, Treasury 1999; Chair, Greater London Labour Party 1991-2000; Member, London Labour Executive 1988. Special political interests: Anti-poverty, regeneration. Profession/Trade: Parent Governor, Eastbury Comprehensive School 1994-2000. Education: Holyrood Senior Secondary, Glasgow. Hobbies: West Ham United FC, golf, reading, TV/films, Millwall RFC.
b. 4 April 1952, Glasgow. Divorced with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	15,628	40.1	-21.1	20,866	61.2
Conservative	8,499	21.8	2.0	6,758	19.8
Respect	6,573	16.9	-	-	-
Lib Dem	5,420	13.9	2.8	3,795	11.1
Green	955	2.5	-	-	-
Independent	815	2.1	-	-	-
Veritas	650	1.7	-	-	-
Christian Peoples	470	1.2	-	-	-
BNP	-	-	-	1,733	5.1
Soc Alliance	-	-	-	950	2.8
Majority	7,129	18.3		14,108	41.4
Turnout	39,010	63.2	17.8	34,102	45.4