Members of Parliament for Widnes - Runcorn and Widnes World

Member of Parliament for Halton

Party

Committees

Children, Schools And Families Committee, Transatlantic And International Security Group, Rugby League Group, Epilepsy Group, Major Infrastructure Projects Group, British-greek Group

Biography

MP Since - 1997 Majority - 14,606 Born - 09/07/1959. Married, 1 son & 1 daughter.

Education - Bankfield High School, Widness; Halton College of Further Education.

Previous Occupation - Civil Servant Department for Education & Employment (1975-1996).

Personal Overview - Comes from an atypical Labour background in the Civil Service and latterly political consultancy. As such, he is likely to have a reasonable knowledge of the political system. He has a wide range of political interests including Education and Government generally. His parliamentary career has been varied and has seen steady progression from Committee memberships, a role as a PPS, an Assistant Government Whip and most recently junior Government positions before being removed from office at the October 2008 reshuffle.

Political History - Councillor Cheshire County Council (1981-85), Halton Borough Council (1983-97). MP Halton (1997-). Member of the Public Accounts Select Committee (1998-99). Member of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee (2009-). PPS to Helen Liddell, Minister of State, Department for the Environment, Transport & the Regions (1999), Department of Trade & Industry (1999-2001). PPS to Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government & the Regions (2001-02). Assistant Government Whip (2002-03). Government Whip (2003-04). Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education & Skills (2004-05), Department of Transport (2005-06), Ministry of Defence (2006-08).

Characteristics - Likely to be a 'New Labour' style member. Coming from a background working inside the political system, he will understand better then many members the difficulties and intricacies of Government.

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