Member for Barrow and Furness since 1992. Committees: Member, Select Committee on Home Affairs 1994-97, Unopposed Bills 1994-97; Backbench Comittees, Chair, Home Affairs 1994-97 and Defence 1992-94; All-Party Subject Groups, Chair of Welfare of Park Home Owners 1995-97, Chair of British Latin American Group 1997. Political career: Member of the Privy Council 2001; Minister of State for Health 2001; Minister for Health, Department of Health 1999; Under-Secretary of State for Health 1998-99; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Leader of the House 1998; PPS to Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 1998. Special political interests: Legal affairs, welfare state, defence, home affairs. Profession/Trade: Senior Lecturer in Law, Newcastle Polytechnic 1981-92; Research Fellow, Magdalene College 1980-81. Education: Westcliffe High School, Essex; Magdalene College, Oxford, MA, BCL. Affiliations: Trustee (unpaid) Furness Animal Refuge. Hobbies: Football, cricket, films, music and history.
b. 6 May 1955, London. Divorced with four children (one son deceased).

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	17,360	47.6	-8.1	21,724	55.7
Conservative	11,323	31.0	0.7	11,835	30.3
Lib Dem	6,130	16.8	4.6	4,750	12.2
UKIP	758	2.1	0.3	711	1.8
Build Bridges	409	1.1	1.1	-	-
Veritas	306	0.8	-	-	-
Independent	207	0.6	-	-	-
Majority	6,037	17	-	9,889	25.3
Turnout	36,493	59.0	-1.3	39,020	60.3