Member for Vale of York since 1997. Committees: Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Trans-European Networks; Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Transport Infrastructure Group; Secretary, All-Party Parliamentary Group on South Africa; Vice-Chair, All-Party Group on Aviation. Political career: Shadow Minister for Transport (with responsibility for Aviation, Shipping, Buses since 2002; Shadow DCMS Spokesperson (Shadow Minister for Film, Music, Media and Broadcasting) 2001-02; Member of the European Parliament, North Essex and South Suffolk since 1994; MEP, North East Essex 1989-94; Contested Workington, Cumbria 1987; Member, Bureau of British Section of EEP 1994-97; Member, EP delegation to Poland since 1994; Chair, EP Delegation to Norway 1994-95 and Member 1989-94. Special political interests: Transport, farming and agriculture. Profession/Trade: Scottish Advocate. Education: Harrogate College, Yorkshire; University of Edinburgh, LLB (Hons); University of Aarhus, Denmark; trained at the Scottish Bar. Languages spoken: Danish, Spanish, French, German and Italian. Affiliations: Member, Chancellor's Council of Anglia Polytechnic University and of Governing Board of Writtle College; Co-Chair, European Transport Safety Council; President, Anglia Enterprise in Europe and Yorkshire First; Vice-President, National Association of District Councils; Fellow, The Industry and Parliament Trust. Hobbies: Swimming, cinema, country life.
b. 20 September 1954, Edinburgh. Married.

2005				2001
CON HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Conservative	26,025	51.7	0.0	25,033	51.6
Labour	12,313	24.4	-1.4	12,516	25.8
Lib Dem	12,040	23.9	3.7	9,799	20.2
UKIP	-	-	-	1,142	2.4
Majority	13,712	27.2		12,517	25.8
Turnout	50,378	66.3	0.2	48,490	66.1