Member for Reading West since 1997. Committees: Member, Co-operative Party; Parliamentary Advisor on Shooting and Fishing to Richard Caborn, as Minister of State for Sport since 2002; Secretary, All-Party Panjabis in Britain Group since 2001; Vice-Chair, All-Party Fibromyalgia Group since 2001; Member, Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons since 2001; Member, Modernisation of the House of Commons since 2001; Member, Labour Party Departmental Committees for Home Affairs since 2001, Northern Ireland 1997-2001; Environment, Transport and the Regions since 1997, Parliamentary Affairs since 1997. Member, Northern Ireland Affairs 1997-99; Chair, South East Regional Group of Labour MPs since 1998. Political career: Deputy Leader, Reading Borough Council 1987-96; Councillor, Reading Borough Council 1984-96; Chair, Leisure Committee 1986-88. Special political interests: Environment, local and regional government, housing, Northern Ireland, human rights. Education: Strodes School, Egham, Surrey. Author of: Various articles in national and local press, Fabian Review, Punch. Affiliations: Member of Greenpeace, National Trust, Amnesty International, Angling Conservation Association, Green Lanes Environmental Action Movement; Patron of Cystinosis Foundation, Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Centre; Vice-President, Supporters Trust, Reading FC; Member, Reading and District Angling Association and other fishing clubs. Hobbies: Angling, walking, football.                                                    b. 19 April 1954. Married.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	18,940	45.0	-8.1	22,300	53.1
Conservative	14,258	33.9	1.8	13,451	32
Lib Dem	6,663	15.8	3.0	5,387	12.8
UKIP	1,180	2.8	0.8	848	2
Green	921	2.2	-	-	-
Veritas	141	0.3	-	-	-
Majority	4,682	11.1		8,849	21.1
Turnout	42,103	61.0	2.4	41,986	58.6