Member for Ayr since 1997. Committees: European Standing Committee; Scottish Group of Labour MPs; Scottish Executive of the Labour Party; former Member of the Kekley Committee on the Renewal of Local Democracy. Political career: Parliamentary Private Secretary to Helen Waddell, Secretary of State for Scotland 2002-03; PPS to George Foulkes, Minister of State of Scotland Office (also to his predecessor, Brian Wilson); Councillor, South Ayrshire Council (formerly Kyle and Carrick District Council) 1991-97. Special political interests: Women's issues, international development, air-traffic services. Profession/Trade: Community worker. Education: Camphill Senior Secondary School, Paisley; Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow, Diploma in Community Education; University of Strathclyde, MSc. Affiliations: Member, TGWU and Co-operative Party. Hobbies: Reading, walking, spending time with family.
b. 23 February 1956. Married with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	20,433	45.4	1.8	16,801	43.6
Conservative	10,436	23.2	-13.8	14,256	37
Lib Dem	6,341	14.1	8.7	2,089	5.4
SNP	5,932	13.2	1.2	4,621	12
SSCP	592	1.3	1.3	-	-
Scot Soc	554	1.2	-0.6	692	1.8
Soc Lab	395	0.9	0.9	-	-
UKIP	365	0.8	0.5	101	0.3
Majority	9,997	22.2		2,545	6.6
Turnout	45,048	61.3	-8	38,560	69.3