Member for Birmingham, Ladywood since 1983. Committees: Member, National Executive Committee of the Labour Party 1988-97; former Member, Home Affairs Select Committee and Subcommittee on Race and Immigration 1983-85; former Chair, All-Party Committee on Race Relations. Political career: Secretary of State, International Development 1997-2003; Shadow Overseas Development Minister 1996-97; Shadow Secretary of State for Transport 1995-96; Frontbench Spokesperson on Women 1993-95, Environmental Protection 1992-93, Social Security 1989-91, Employment 1985-88. Special political interests: Unemployment, immigration, race relations, low pay, Ireland, women, the Middle East and development. Profession/Trade: Director, Youth Aid and the Unemployment Unit. Education: Keele and Leeds Universities. Author of: Dear Clare (1990); Talking Blues (1978); Handbook of Immigration Laws (1976).
b. 15 February 1946, Birmingham. Widow.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	17,262	51.9	-17.0	21,694	68.9
Lib Dem	10,461	31.5	23.3	2,586	8.2
Conservative	3,515	10.6	-0.7	3,551	11.3
UKIP	2,008	6.0	5.1	283	0.9
People's Justice	-	-	-	2,112	6.7
Soc Lab	-	-	-	443	1.4
Muslim	-	-	-	432	1.4
ProLife Alliance	-	-	-	392	1.2
Majority	6,801	20.5		18,143	57.6
Turnout	33,246	46.8	2.5	31,493	44.3