Member for East Ham since 1997. Committees: Member, Treasury Select Committee 1999-2001. Political career: Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry since 2002. Minister for Schools, DfES 2001-02; Financial Secretary, HM Treasury 1999-2001; Minister of State, Department of Social Security 1998-99; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Social Security 1998-99; PPS to the Rt Hon Mo Mowlam 1998; PPS to the Rt Hon Andrew Smith 1997-98; Councillor, Little Ilford Ward, London Borough of Newham 1984-97; Leader, Newham Council 1990-94; Chair, Newham Council Planning Committee 1987-90. Special political interests: Urban regeneration, economic policy, Christian socialism. Profession/Trade: Consultant in computing and communications industry 1978-94. Title/Honours/Decorations: Honorary Doctorate of Education, University of East London 2002. Education: Farnborough Grammar School; Emmanuel College, Cambridge, MA, Mathematics and MPhil. Languages spoken: German (some). Author of: Broadband Communications: The Commercial Impact (1986).
b. 29 July 1955, Oldham, Lancashire. Married.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	21,326	53.9	-19.2	27,241	73.1
Respect the Unity Coalition	8,171	20.7	-	-	-
Conservative	5,196	13.1	-3.5	6,209	16.7
Lib Dem	4,296	10.9	3.9	2,600	7
Christian Peoples Alliance	580	1.5	-	-	-
Soc Lab	-	-	-	783	2.1
UKIP	-	-	-	444	1.2
Majority	13,155	33.2	-	21,032	56.4
Turnout	39,569	50.7	-1.6	37,277	52.3