Personal Details

Place/Date of Birth:
Glasgow, 04/04/52

Education:
Holyrood Senior Secondary, Glasgow

Electoral Details:
Constituency, Poplar and Limehouse (London), Labour Member of Parliament since 1st May 1997

Political Background:
Barking Constituency Labour Party, Voluntary Agent 1986-91, Chair 1989-90, Member London Labour Executive 1988, Chair Greater London Labour Party

Political Career:
Cabinet Posts - None
Government Positions - Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2010, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Minister for London, Parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Department of Trade and Industry, Government Whip, Lords Commissioner, Vice Chamberlain of HM Household, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Opposition Posts - None
Seats held - Poplar and Canning Town
Select Committees - None
Parliamentary Private Secretary - Alan Milburn (Treasury) 1999, (Health) 1999-2001
Treasurer-London Members - 1999-2001
All Party Country Groups - Bangladesh
All Party Subject Groups - Chair Thames Gateway 1998-2001, Co Chair Fire Safety 1999-2001, Jt V Chair Leasehold Reform 1998-2001, Jt V Chair Police 1998-2001, Animal Welfare 1998-2001, AIDS/HIV 1998-2001, Rwanda/Genocide 1999-2001, Hospice Group

Political Interest:
Anti Poverty, Regeneration, Anti Racism, Fire

Recreations:
West Ham United FC, Golf, Reading, TV/Films, Millwall RFC

Occupational History and Other Details:
Trainee, Tytrak Ltd Glasgow 1970-73
Driver, Mintex Ltd London 1973-74
Firefighter, London Fire Brigade 1974-97
Member, National Executive Council, Fire Brigades Union 1988-1997
Parent Governor, Eastbury Comprehensive School 1994-2000