Member for Islwyn since 1995. Committees: Member, Backbench Departmental Committees for Home Affairs, Trade and Industry, HM Treasury, Health 1997-2002; Member, Welsh Affairs Select Committee 1996-97; Member of the following Standing Committees: Police Bill 1997; Finance Bill 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999; Jurisdiction (Conspiracy and Incitement) Bill 1997; Knives Bill 1997; Damages Bill 1996; Criminal Procedure and Investigations Bill 1996; Crime Sentences Bill 1996; Equal Opportunities Bill 1995; Criminal Appeals Bill 1995. Political career: Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales since 2001; Government Whip with special responsibility for Wales 1999-2001; Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1997-99; Press Officer for Glenys Kinnock in 1994 Euro Election; Member, Executive Committee of Wales Labour Party; Chair, Estates Committee, Gwent County Council; Chair, Finance Committee, Gwent County Council; Constituency President; joined Gwent County Council 1973; joined TGWU 1966; joined Labour Party 1962. Special political interests: Miners' health, education, local government, the economy, foreign affairs. Profession/Trade: Print manager, former editor and journalist of the Free Press Group of Newspapers. Education: St Francis School, Abersychan; Mid Gwent College. Affiliations: many community affiliations including: President, National Old Age Pensioners Association of Wales; Islwyn Drug and Alcohol Project; Patron, Everyone's Child Romania; Honorary Member, Blackwood Rotary Club. Hobbies: Swimming, walking, classical music, cooking.
b. 5 December 1949, Abersychan, Gwent. Married with four children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour Co op	19,687	63.8	2.2	19,505	61.5
Plaid Cymru	3,947	12.8	0.9	3,767	11.9
Lib Dem	3,873	12.6	-0.7	4,196	13.2
Conservative	3,358	10.9	2.9	2,543	8
Independent	-	-	-	1,263	4
Soc Lab	-	-	-	417	1.3
Majority	15,740	51.0		15,309	48.3
Turnout	30,865	61.0	-0.9	31,691	61.9