Member for Watford since 1997. Committees: Chair, All-Party Film Industry Group since 2002; Chair/Secretary, All-Party Youth Affairs Group since 2001; Chair, All-Party Chocolate and Confectionery Industry Group since 2001; Vice-Chair, All-Party Royal Marines Group since 2001, All-Party Football Group since 2001; Member, Labour Departmental Committees for Education and Employment 1997-2001, Home Affairs 1997-2001, National Heritage/Culture, Media and Sport 1997-2001. Political career: Parliamentary Private Secretary to John Hutton as Minister of State, Department of Health since 2001. Special political interests: Transport, education, employment, home affairs, culture, media, sport.
Education: Loreto College, St Albans, Hertfordshire; University of Hertfordshire, LLB; Brunel University, MA Britain and the European Union; College of Law, London. Affiliations: Member of Fabian Society, Society of Labour Lawyers. Hobbies: Cinema, reading, restaurants, Watford Football Club.
b. 9 May 1972, North Shields, Tyne and Wear. Married.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	16,575	33.6	-11.7	20,992	45.3
Lib Dem	15,427	31.2	13.8	8,088	17.4
Conservative	14,634	29.6	-3.7	15,437	33.3
Green	1,466	3.0	1.0	900	1.9
UKIP	1,292	2.6	1.5	535	1.2
Soc Alliance	-	-	-	420	0.9
Majority	1,148	2.3		5,555	12
Turnout	49,394	64.8	3.6	46,372	61.2