Member of Manchester Central since 1997. Committees:
Leader of the British Delegation to the Council of Europe and the Western European Union; Chair, Trade Union Group of Labour MPs; Chair, All-Party Russian Group. Political career: Minister of State, Foreign Office 1997-99;
Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 1995-97, the Environment and London 1994-95, Education 1992-94, Employment 1989-92, Transport 1988-89; Councillor, Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council 1979-84. Special political interests: Trade unions, South America, Russia. Profession/Trade: Accountant; Lecturer in Business Studies, Salford University. Education: Nottingham University, Maths; Manchester Business School, Business Administration.
b. 25 February 1950, Stretford. Married with four children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	16,993	58.1	-10.6	17,812	68.7
Lib Dem	7,217	24.7	9.0	4,070	15.7
Conservative	2,504	8.6	-0.4	2,328	9
Green	1,292	4.4	0.5	1,018	3.9
National Front	421	1.4	-	-	-
Ind Pr Lab	382	1.3	-	-	-
UKIP	272	0.9	-	-	-
Soc Lab	183	0.6	-1.3	484	1.9
ProLife Alliance	-	-	-	216	0.8
Majority	9,776	33.4		13,742	53
Turnout	29,264	42.0	2.9	25,928	39.1