Member for Stalybridge and Hyde since 2001. Committees: Chair, Labour Friends of Israel since 2002; Chair, All-Party Group on Private Equity and Venture Capital since 2001; Member, Work and Pensions Select Committees since 2001; Member, Labour Friends of India (liaison between UK Parliament and Bangladesh). Political career: Member, No 10 Policy Unit 1997-2001; Councillor, Islington (Chair of Housing and Vice-Chair in early years) 1994-96; Researcher, Tony Blair MP 1989-92. Special political interests: Work and pensions, education, Middle East, culture, media, sport. Education: Royal Grammar School, Guildford; Balliol College, Oxford, BA (Hons) PPE; Lycee International, St Germain En Laye, France 1980-84. Languages spoken: French. Author of: various publications for Institute of Public Policy Research. Hobbies: Football, cinema, theatre.
b. 2 March 1970, London. Single.