Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth since 1997. Committees: Vice-Chair, Minimum Wage Standing Committee since 1999, Member since 1998; Member, PLP Education, Trade and Industry, and Culture, Media and Sport Committees; Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Clothing and Textiles since 1998; Member, All-Party Cricket Club and All-Party Media Group. Political career: Parliamentary Private Secretary to Lord McDonald since 1999; Chair, Board of Tribune Publications and Vice-Chair of Tribune Group in Parliament; GMB, Head of Communications 1991-97; Parliamentary Candidate for Littleborough and Saddleworth 1995. Profession/Trade: Political Producer, Channel 4 News 1990-91, BBC Newsnight; President, National Union of Students 1984-86. Special political interests: Employment rights, broadcasting, trade unions, industry, social exclusion, minimum wage, broadcasting. Education: University of Manchester, BA (Hons) Philosophy. Affiliations: GMB; Board of Tribune Newspapers; Lancashire County Cricket; Groucho. Hobbies: Photography.
b. 11 December 1959, Scunthorpe. Married with one child.

2005				2001
LAB HOLD	Votes	%	+/- %	Votes	%
Labour	17,968	41.4	2.8	17,537	38.6
Lib Dem	14,378	33.2	0.6	14,811	32.6
Conservative	7,901	18.2	2.1	7,304	16.1
BNP	2,109	4.9	-6.4	5,091	11.2
UKIP	873	2.0	0.5	677	1.5
Independent	138	0.3	-	-	-
Majority	3,590	8		2,726	6
Turnout	43,367	57	-4	45,420	61