Member for Thanet South since 1997. Committees: Chair, British Netherlands Group since 2001; Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism since 2000; Member, Select Committee on Transport 1999-2001. Political career: Parliamentary Private Secretary to Adam Ingram, Minister for Armed Forces since 2001; Councillor, Thanet District Council 1995-99; Chair of Finance, Thanet District Council 1995-97. Special political interests: Energy, autism, sport, transport, environment, science and technology. Profession/Trade: Biologist, IT Manager. Education: Liverpool Polytechnic BSc (Hons); University of Strathclyde, PhD. Author of: various learned papers; 'Natural Isotopes as an Index of Soil Development' (PhD thesis). Affiliations: Member, USDAW. Hobbies: Walking the dog, watching football.
b. 6 November 1952, Ormskirk, Lancashire. Married with four children (three stepchildren).

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	16,660	40.4	-5.3	18,002	45.7
Conservative	15,996	38.8	-2.3	16,210	41.1
Lib Dem	5,431	13.2	3.8	3,706	9.4
UKIP	2,079	5.0	3.8	502	1.3
Green	888	2.2	-	-	-
Independent	188	0.5	-1.5	770	2
National Front	-	-	-	542	0.6
Majority	664	1.6		1,792	4.5
Turnout	41,242	65.0	0.8	39,432	64.2