Member for East Kilbride since 1987. Political career: Minister of State for the Armed Forces since 2001; Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office 1997-2001; Shadow Minister, Science and Technology 1995-97; Shadow Social Security Minister 1993-95; Member, Trade and Industry Select Committee 1992-93; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Neil Kinnock MP, Leader of the Opposition 1989-92; Shadow Whip for Treasury and Scottish Affairs 1988-89. Special political interests: Defence, industry, aerospace, energy, Northern Ireland. Profession/Trade: Programmer/analyst. Education: Cranhill Secondary School; Open University. Affiliations: Co-op Party, Labour Party, Member TGWU. Hobbies: Reading, cooking, fishing.
b. 1 February 1947, Glasgow. Married.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	23,264	48.7	-	22,205	53.3
SNP	8,541	17.9	-	9,450	22.7
Lib Dem	7,904	16.6	-	4,278	10.3
Conservative	4,776	10.0	-	4,238	10.2
Green	1,575	3.3	-	-	-
Independent	1,513	3.2	-	-	-
Independent Houston	160	0.3	-	-	-
Scot Soc	-	-	-	1,519	3.6
Majority	14723	30.8	-	12,755	30.6
Turnout	47733	63.5	-	41,690	62.6