Member for Blackpool South since 1997. Committees: Vice-Chair, Parliamentary Labour Party; Education and Employment Committee, June 97; Treasurer, All-Party Arts and Heritage Group June 97; Chair, Future of Europe Trust 1999; Member, Education Select Committee. Political career: Chair, Programme Committee Fabian Society 1996; National Executive, Fabian Society 1995; Contested Blackpool South, April 1992. Special political interests: Arts and heritage, education, Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union, disabilities. Profession/Trade: Magazine editor; Open University Lecturer. Education: Stockport Grammar School; New College, Oxford; The Warburg Institute; University of London; Harvard University, Kennedy Scholarship. Author of: Victorian Values: Personalities and Perspective in 19th Century Society (2nd edition) (1998); and numerous articles in History Today, Political Quarters, Tribune, The Guardian, New Statesman. Affiliations: Association of British Editors; Member, GMB; Board Member, Institute of Historical Research, London; President, British Resorts Association. Hobbies: World music, travel, early music, swimming, medieval culture.
b. 28 November 1953. Single.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	19,375	50.5	-3.8	21,060	54.3
Conservative	11,453	29.9	-3.1	12,798	33
Lib Dem	5,552	14.5	3.9	4,115	10.6
BNP	1,113	2.9	2.9	-	-
UKIP	849	2.2	0.1	819	2.1
Majority	7,922	20.7	-	8,262	21.3
Turnout	38,342	52.1	-0.1	38,792	52.2