Member for Ryedale since 1987. Committees: Secretary, All-Party Media Committee; Vice-Chair, All-Party Football Committee; Member, Broadcasting Bill Standing Committee; Chair, All-Party Insurance and Financial Services Committee. Political career: Frontbench Spokesperson, Department of Culture, Media and Sport since 2000; Frontbench Spokesperson, Home Affairs 1997-2000; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Baroness Trumpington 1991-92; Vice-Chair, North Yorkshire Police Authority 1986; elected to North Yorkshire County Council 1985; former Treasurer, Ryedale Conservative Association; Member, North Yorkshire Education, Schools and Public Protection Committees. Special political interests: Broadcasting, insurance, home affairs, criminal justice. Profession/Trade: Insurance broker, financial consultant; served in Metropolitan Police 1965-70. Education: Sir John Deane's Grammar School, Northwich, Cheshire. Affiliations: Founder Member, Friends of Opera North; Parliamentary Advisor to the Institute of Sales Promotion and Institute of Insurance Brokers; President of York City Football Club; former Governor of York Theatre Royal. Hobbies: Football, racing, music, opera, wine.
b. 15 February 1946, Northwich, Cheshire. Married with three children.

2005				2001
CON HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Conservative	21,251	48.2	1.0	20,711	47.2
Lib Dem	10,782	24.4	-11.6	15,836	36.1
Labour	9,148	20.7	6.0	6,470	14.7
UKIP	1,522	3.5	1.4	882	2
Liberal	1,417	3.2	-	-	-
Majority	10,469	23.7		4,875	11.1
Turnout	44,120	65.1	-0.9	43,899	66