Member for St Helens South since 2005. Member for Witney since 1997. Committees: Select Committee on European Legislation. Political career: Director of Communications CCO 1990-92. Special political interests: Finance, Europe, education, environment and culture. Profession/Trade: Broadcaster. Education: Bristol Grammar School; Jesus College, Cambridge University, MA Double First, English Literature. Co-Author of: Tranquillizers, a Study of Tranquillizer Dependency (with Ron Lacey); Ben, The Story of Ben Hardwick (with Esther Rantzen); Drugwatch, a Study of Hard Drug Addiction (with Sarah Chaplin). Hobbies: Opera, tennis, countryside, gardening, architecture.
b. 26 October 1958. Married with four children.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	19,345	54.5	4.8	16,799	49.7
Lib Dem	10,036	28.3	5.2	7,814	23.1
Conservative	4,602	13	-0.8	4,675	13.8
Soc Lab	643	1.8	-2.6	1,504	4.4
UKIP	847	2.4	1.4	336	1
Soc Alliance	-	-	-	2,325	6.9
Independent	-	-	-	271	0.8
Independent	-	-	-	80	0.2
Majority	9,309	26.2		8,985	26.6
Turnout	35,473	54.2	2.3	33,804	51.9