Member for Stirling since 1997. Political career: Assistant Government Whip since 1999; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Donald Dewar, Secretary of State for Scotland; Assistant Government Whip 1997-98; Member, Scottish Executive of the Labour Party 1984-98; Chair, Scottish Labour Party 1992-97; Strathclyde Regional Councillor 1980-82. Special political interests: Rural and urban development; youth issues; European funding. Profession/Trade: former Deputy Director of SCVO. Education: University of Glasgow, MA (Hons); Notre Dame College of Education, Diploma in Secondary Teaching. Languages spoken: French, Spanish, some Gaelic. Hobbies: Walking, Scottish traditional music and dancing, reading.
b. 26 May 1949, Glasgow. Married with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	15,729	36	-	15,175	42.2
Conservative	10,962	25.1	-	8,901	24.8
Lib Dem	9,052	20.7	-	4,208	11.7
SNP	5,503	12.6	-	5,877	16.4
Green	1,302	3	-	757	2.1
Scot Soc	458	1.1	-	1,012	2.8
Independent	261	0.6	-	-	-
UKIP	209	0.5	-	-	-
Majority	4,767	10.9	-	6,274	17.5
Turnout	43,691	67.7	-	35,930	67.7