Member for Dudley South since 1997. Committees: Member, Education and Employment Select Committee; Member, PLP Backbench Treasury, DTI and Employment Committees. Political career: Member for Dudley West 1994-97; Councillor, Dudley MBC 1984-87. Special political interests: Economic and industrial policy, small business and regional policy. Profession/Trade: Business and Economic Consultant. Education: Balliol College, Oxford, BA (Hons) PPE; University of Warwick, MA Industrial Relations; University of Warwick, PhD Industrial and Business. Affiliations: Stourbridge Rugby Football Club; West Bromwich Albion FC. Hobbies: Rugby, literature, architecture.
b. 1959, Wall Heath, West Midlands. Married with three children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	17,800	45.3	-4.5	18,109	49.8
Conservative	13,556	34.5	3.4	11,292	31.1
Lib Dem	4,808	12.2	-2.7	5,421	14.9
BNP	1,841	4.7	-	-	-
UKIP	1,271	3.2	0.9	859	2.4
Soc Alliance	-	-	-	663	1.8
Majority	4,244	10.8		6,817	18.8
Turnout	39,276	60.2	4.8	36,344	55.4