Member for Bury South since 1997. Committees: Member, Labour Friends of Israel; Member, Inter-Parliamentary Council Against Anti-Semitism; Member, Health Select Committee 1998-99; Member, All-Party Childcare Group, Parenting Group; Member Backbench Committee on Health, Home Affairs and Education, Employment. Political career: Minister for Education since 2001; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon Stephen Byers MP 1999-2001; Councillor, Bury MBC 1990-98; Chair, Bury Social Services Committee 1991-95. Special political interests: Education, health and social care, voluntary sector, Israel. Profession/Trade: Voluntary sector director. Education: William Hulme Grammar School; Stand College; Bury Further Education College. Affiliations: Member, Amicus/MSF. Hobbies: Watching most sports, supporting Manchester City FC, reading.
b. 4 March 1967, Manchester. Married with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	19,741	50.4	-8.8	23,406	59.2
Conservative	10,829	27.7	0.8	10,634	26.9
Lib Dem	6,968	17.8	3.9	5,499	13.9
UKIP	1,059	-	2.7	-	-
Independent	557	-	1.4	-	-
Majority	8,912	22.8	-	12,772	32.3
Turnout	39,154	58.5	-0.3	39,539	58.8