Member for Kingston-upon-Hull West and Hessle since 1997. Committees: Member, Trade and Industry Select Committee June 1997-December 1997. Political career: Minister of State for Employment Relations, Industry and the Regions since 2001; Minister for Competitiveness at DTI 1999-2001; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Dawn Primarolo as Paymaster General 1999; PPS to Dawn Primarolo as Financial Secretary to Treasury 1997-99. Special political interests: Post office, electoral reform, employment rights. Profession/Trade: Trade union leader; postman. Education: Sloane Grammer School, Chelsea. Hobbies: Cooking, reading, music, Radio 4, football.
b. 17 May 1950, London. Married with four children (one deceased).

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	15,305	55.0	-3.4	16,880	58.4
Lib Dem	5,855	21.1	6.0	4,364	15.1
Conservative	5,769	20.7	0.2	5,929	20.5
Veritas	889	3.2	-	-	-
UKIP	-	-	-	878	3
Independent	-	-	-	512	1.8
Soc Lab	-	-	-	353	1.2
Majority	9,450	34.0		10,951	37.9
Turnout	27,818	45.2	-0.6	28,916	45.8