Member for Luton South since 1997. Political career: Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon Mo Mowlam, Minister for the Cabinet Office since 1999; PPS to Rt Hon Gavin Strang, Minister for Transport 1998-99; Chair, Parliamentary Labour Housing Group since 1998; Councillor, Lewisham 1984-97; Leader, London Borough of Lewisham 1993-96; Chair, Housing, Lewisham 1985-92; Deputy Chair, AMA 1994-96; Chair, Housing AMA 1992-96; Contested Carshalton and Wallington 1992. Profession/Trade: Housing Association Director. Education: St Ursula's High School; University of Birmingham, BsocSc; Hackney College (day release) Institute of Housing. Affiliations: Member, TGWU; Labour Housing Group; Labour Women's Network. Hobbies: Visiting sites of historic interest; cinema; Ireland; eating curry.
b. 24 April 1955, London. Single.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	16,610	42.7	-12.5	21,719	55.2
Conservative	10,960	28.2	-1.3	11,586	29.4
Lib Dem	8,778	22.6	11.7	4,292	10.9
UKIP	957	2.5	1.0	578	1.5
Green	790	2.0	0.0	798	2
Respect	725	1.9	-	-	-
Workers Rev	98	0.3	0.0	107	0.3
Soc Alliance	-	-	-	271	0.7
Majority	5,650	14.5		10,133	25.8
Turnout	38,918	54.1	-1.8	39,351	55.9