Member for Motherwell and Wishaw since 1997. Committees: Member, Defence Committee since 2001; Member, Select Committee on Social Security 1997-98. Political career: Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon Helen Liddell MP 1998-99; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon Dr John Reid 1999-2001. Special political interests: Social affairs. Education: Motherwell College, HNC Marketing; Glasgow Caledonian University, BA Consumer and Management Studies (Distinction). Hobbies: Reading, gardening, football.
b. 29 August 1958, Motherwell. Married with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	21,327	57.5	-	16,681	56.2
SNP	6,105	16.5	-	5,725	19.3
Lib Dem	4,464	12.0	-	2,791	9.4
Conservative	3,440	9.3	-	3,155	10.6
Scot Soc	1,019	2.8	-	1,260	4.2
Free Scotland Party	384	1.0	-	-	-
Operation Christian Vote	370	1.0	-	-	-
Soc Lab	-	-	-	61	0.2
Majority	15,222	41.0	-	10,956	36.9
Turnout	37,109	55.4	-	29,673	56.6