Member for Bromsgrove since 1997. Committees: Member, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee since 1999; Member, Social Security Select Committee 1997-99; Vice-Chair, All-Party Cancer Group. Political career: Member, Halifax Young Conservatives 1974-78. Special political interests: Tax, social security, Europe.
Profession/Trade: Journalist. Education: Highlands Grammar School, Halifax; Girton College, Cambridge, MA Economics and History. Hobbies: Food, opera, travel.
b. 5 June 1960, Halifax. Married with one child.

2005				2001
CON HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Conservative	24,387	51	-0.7	23,640	51.7
Labour	14,307	29.9	-4	15,502	33.9
Lib Dem	7,197	15.1	3.2	5,430	11.9
UKIP	1,919	4	1.6	1,112	2.4
Majority	10,080	21.1	-	8,138	17.8
Turnout	47,810	67.6	0.5	45,684	67.1