Member for Ilford South since 1992. Committees: Member, NATO Parliamentary Assembly since 2002; Member, Defence Select Committee 1999-2001; Member, Foreign Affairs Select Committee 1992-97. Political career: Chair, Westminster Foundation for Democracy since 2002; Parliamentary Private Secretary, Home Office 2001-02; PPS, Northern Ireland Office 1997-99. Special political interests: Defence, foreign affairs, Europe, education, economic policy. Profession/Trade: Organiser, Research Officer, International Officer at Labour Party Head Office 1997-92. Education: Buckhurst Hill County High School; Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, MA (Hons) Economics; Middlesex Polytechnic, Diploma Industrial Relations. Languages spoken: French. Affiliations: Co-operative Party; TGWU. Author of: After the Cold War (1990); Students and Socialism (1977); Activists' Handbook (1977). Hobbies: Family, supporting West Ham United FC, Jazz and blues music.
b. 4 September 1952, Wanstead. Married with three children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour Co op	20,856	48.9	-10.8	24,619	59.6
Conservative	11,628	27.2	1.5	10,622	25.7
Lib Dem	8,761	20.5	9.3	4,647	11.3
British Public Party	763	1.8	-	-	-
UKIP	685	1.6	-1.8	1,407	3.4
Majority	9,228	21.6		13,997	33.9
Turnout	42,693	53.6	-0.7	41,295	54.3