Place of birth: Ince, Makerfield Education: Harraby secondary University: Carlisle college
Previous Occupation: Personnel Manager Career History:
1966-87: Laboratory technician and personnel manager, Nestle Co.
Marital Status: Married Children: No
Councils, public bodies
Councillor, Carlisle County Borough Council 1972-74;
Cumbria County Council:
Councillor 1973-88,
Chair 1983-85;
East Cumbria Health Authority:
Member 1975-88,
Chairman 1977-79 Electoral history
Member for Carlisle since 11 June 1987 general election Spokesperson
Opposition Front Bench Spokesman on Defence, Disarmament and Arms Control with special responsibilities for the RAF 1992-95 Whip
Opposition Whip 1996-97
Parliamentary career
Shadow Defence Minister 1992-97; PPS:
to Dr David Clark as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1997-98,
to Baroness Jay of Paddington as Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the Lords and Minister for Women 1998-2001 Select committees
Member: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2001-02 Current posts
Chair, All-Party West Coast Main Line Group 1992-
Member, Parliamentary Members Fund;
Trustee, Parliamentary Pension Fund
Backbench Committees
Member, Labour Party Departmental Committee for Office of Public Service 1997-2001 All party groups (office-holding)
Chair, West Coast Main Line Group 1998- Political interests
Transport, Health, Social Services, Agriculture, Defence