Member for Glasgow North East since 2005. Member for Glasgow, Springburn since 1979. Committees: Member, Select Committee on Industry and Trade; Chair, Scottish Grand Committee; Member, Speaker's Panel of Chairmen. Political career: Speaker of the House of Commons since 2000; First Deputy Chair of Ways and Means 1997-2000; Chair, Scottish Grand Committee 1987-97; Chair, Administration Committee 1992-97; Glasgow City Councillor 1973-79. Special political interests: Local government, finance, housing, social work, the health service. Profession/Trade: Trade union organiser; sheet-metal worker. Education: St Patrick's Boys' School, Glasgow. Hobbies: Hill-walking, local history, Scottish bagpipes (piping).
b. 3 July 1945. Married with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour/Speaker	15,153	53.3	-	16,053	66.6
SNP	5,019	17.7	-	4,675	19.4
Soc Lab	4,036	14.2	-	-	-
Scot Soc	1,402	4.9	-	1,879	7.8
Scot Unionist	1,266	4.5	-	1,289	5.3
BNP	920	3.2	-	-	-
Independent	622	2.2	-	-	-
Independent	-	-	-	208	0.9
Majority	10,134	35.7	-	11,378	47.2
Turnout	28,418	45.8	-	24,104	43.7