Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland since 1997. Committees: Member, Science and Technology Select Committee; Member, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology Board. Political career: Vice-Chair, Education Committee 1995-96; MP for Langbaurgh 1991-92; Councillor, Middlesbrough Council 1987-97. Special political interests: Treasury, education and employment, trade and industry, local government. Profession/Trade: Research Fellow, Imperial College; research scientist with British Steel. Education: Aston University, BSc Chemical Engineering, MSc Process Analysis and Control Theory, PhD Fluid Mechanics. Affiliations: Member, Steel and Industrial Managers Association; Fellow, Institution of Chemical Engineers; Member, Institute of Energy. Hobbies: Playing badminton and cricket, listening to Jazz music, reading history and philosophy.
b. 28 May 1956.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	21,945	50.2	-5.1	24,321	55.3
Conservative	13,945	31.9	-2.1	14,970	34
Lib Dem	6,049	13.8	3.2	4,700	10.7
BNP	1,099	2.5	-	-	-
UKIP	658	1.5	-	-	-
Majority	8,000	18.3		9,351	21.3
Turnout	43,696	60.8	0.7	43,991	61.5