Member for Thanet North since 1983. Committees: Member, Speaker's Panel of Chairmen since 1997; Chair, Backbench Media Committee; All-Party Animal Welfare Group 1992-98; Member, Broadcasting Select Committee since 1997; Fellow, Industry and Parliament Trust; Fellow, Parliament and Armed Forces Fellowship; Fellow, Parliament and Police Fellowship. Political career: Parliamentary Private Secretary to Jeremy Hanley, Minister of State for Armed Forces 1993-95; PPS to Archie Hamilton, Minister of State for Armed Forces 1992-93; Member, Home Affairs 1990-92; Member, Conservative Trade Unionists' National Committee 1979-83; Parliamentary Candidate for Birmingham, Northfield 1982 (by-election). Special political interests: Broadcasting (media), animal welfare, Home affairs. Profession/Trade: TV producer; journalist. Education: Guildhall School of Music and Drama, LGSM&D. Languages spoken: French (moderate). Hobbies: Swimming, sailing.
b. 20 August 1943, Poole, Dorset. Married with three children.

2005				2001
CON HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Conservative	21,699	49.6	-0.7	21,050	50.3
Labour	14,065	32.2	-2.2	14,400	34.4
Lib Dem	6,279	14.4	3.4	4,603	11
UKIP	1,689	3.9	1.5	980	2.3
Independent	-	-	-	440	1.1
National Front	-	-	-	395	0.9
Majority	7,634	17.5		6,650	15.9
Turnout	43,732	60.1	0.8	41,868	59.3