Member for Walthamstow since 1992. Committees: Member, Information Committee, House of Commons; former Member, Environmental Audit Select Committee; Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on AIDS, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees; Secretary of PLP Civil Liberties Group. Political career: Leader of Council 1986-90; Leader of Labour Group 1983-90; Council Member, London Borough of Waltham Forest 1973-90; Labour Candidate, Chingford 1979. Special political interests: Asylum and immigration, HIV/AIDS, disabilities, foreign affairs (especially Middle East, Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Pakistan), criminal justice, housing. Profession/Trade: Lecturer in Further Education 1968-92.Education: Wadham College, Oxford, BA Chemistry; Chelsea College, London, MEd. Hobbies: Sport, theatre, film.
b. 3 July 1942, Farnworth, Lancashire. Divorced with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	17,323	50.3	-11.9	21,402	62.2
Lib Dem	9,330	27.1	12.5	5,024	14.6
Conservative	6,254	18.2	0.1	6,221	18.1
UKIP	810	2.4	1.5	298	0.9
Soc Alt	727	2.1	-0.2	806	2.3
BNP	-	-	-	389	1.1
ProLife Alliance	-	-	-	289	0.8
Majority	7,993	23.2		15,181	44.1
Turnout	34,444	54.6	1.1	34,429	53.5