Member for Ashfield since 1992. Committees: Member, Plant Committee on Electoral Reform since 1990; Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Friends of Music Group. Political career: Secretary of State for Defence since 1999; Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 1999; Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department 1997-99; Shadow Minister for Information Technology 1995-97; Shadow Solicitor-General 1995; Treasury Whip 1994-95; Vice-Chair and Governor of Westminster Foundation for Democracy 1994-97; Member, European Parliament 1984-94; Member, EP Legal Affairs Committee 1984-94; MP for Derbyshire and Ashfield 1984-94; Chair, EP Delegation for Relations with the USA 1989-92; Chair, EP Delegation to China 1987-89. Special political interests: EU, legal affairs, the Treasury, trade and industry. Profession/Trade: Barrister. Education: Nottingham High School; Cambridge, MA. Affiliations: Westminster Foundation 1994-97; TGWU since 1977. Hobbies: Football, cricket, running, cinema, music.
b. 6 December 1953, Derby. Married with three children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	20,433	48.6	-9.5	22,875	58.1
Conservative	10,220	24.3	-0.1	9,607	24.4
Lib Dem	5,829	13.9	2.6	4,428	11.3
Ashfield	2,292	5.5	5.5	-	-
Independent	1,900	4.5	0.8	1,471	3.7
Veritas	1,108	2.6	2.6	-	-
Ind Grenfell	269	0.6	0.6	-	-
Soc Alliance	-	-	-	589	1.5
Soc Lab	-	-	-	380	1
Majority	10,213	24.3		13,268	33.7
Turnout	42,051	57.3	3.7	39,350	53.6