Member for Leicester East since 1987. Committees: Member, Select Committee Lord Chancellor's Department since 2002; Chair, UNISON Group of MPs until 1999; Chair, All-Party Indo-British Parliamentary Group 1997-99; Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Footwear and Leather Industries Group 1990-96; Elected to Labour Party Regional Executive (Representative of Central Regional Group of MPs) 1994-96; Treasurer, Tribune Group of MPs 1994; Member, Executive Committee Inter-Parliamentary Union 1993-94; Vice-Chair, Tribune Group of MPs 1992; Chair, All-Party Hosiery and Knitwear Group 1987-92; Member, Home Affairs Select Committee of the House of Commons 1987-92; Co-ordinator of the BCC1 Parliamentary Group since 1991; Secretary, Parliamentary Labour Party, Wool and Textiles Group 1987-90; Member of various Standing Committees including Immigration Bill 1987-88, Football Spectators Bill 1989, Armed Forces Bill 1990-91. Political career: Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 1999; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Chancellor's Department 1999; PPS to the Attorney and Solicitor General 1997-99; Shadow Minister for Planning and Registration 1994-97; Opposition Spokesperson on Local Government and Inner Cities 1992-94; Parliamentary Candidate for Richmond and Barnes 1983; Chair, UNISON Group of MPs. Special political interests: Legal affairs, education, home affairs, housing. Profession/Trade: Barrister. Education: Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith; Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University, BA, MA, MCFI. Affiliations: Patron, Asian Donors Appeal 2000; Patron, Naz Project since 1999; Patron, Ginger Bread since 1990. Hobbies: Tennis, soap operas.
b. 26 November 1956. Married.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	24,015	58.1	0.6	23,402	57.6
Conservative	8,139	19.7	-4.8	9,960	24.5
Lib Dem	7,052	17.1	4.8	4,989	12.3
Veritas	1,666	4.0	-	-	-
Soc Lab	434	1.1	-1.0	837	2.1
BNP	-	-	-	772	1.9
Independent	-	-	-	701	1.7
Majority	15,876	38.4		13,442	33.1
Turnout	41,306	62.2	0.1	40,661	62.1