Member for St Helens North since 1997. Political career: Member of St Helens MBC 1970-97, Leader of Council 1993-97, Chair of Education, Economic Development, Vice-Chair of AMA 1995-97; UK President of European Group of Industrial Regions 1994-96. Special political interests: Regional policy, Europe, education. Profession/Trade: Researcher. Education: Huyton Hey Secondary School. Affiliations: Member, AEEU. Hobbies: Reading, football, travel.
b. 26 August 1951, Liverpool. Married with two children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	22,329	56.9	-4.3	22,977	61.1
Lib Dem	8,367	21.3	3.7	6,609	17.6
Conservative	7,410	18.9	0.1	7,076	18.8
UKIP	1,165	3.0	-	-	-
Soc Lab	-	-	-	939	2.5
Majority	13,962	35.5		15,901	42.3
Turnout	39,271	56.2	2.9	37,601	53.3