A quick biography
I was born in London in 1971. My mum worked as a cleaner in a local hospital and my dad was a lorry driver. I went to school in
Mellow Lane comprehensive school, before going on to study engineering at Nottingham University. After I had finished my BEng, I decided to stay at Nottingham, and continued studying, gaining an
MSc in Information Technology.
A year after leaving university, I was appointed as one of the Labour Party’s organizers. In 1998 I went on to work for Connect – the union for professionals in communications – where I became
Assistant National Organiser. You can find out more about Connect by clicking here.
I am now living in Matson, Gloucester with my wife and baby son, Zac.
Political background
At the ripe old age of 35, I have already been described as ‘an experienced politician’.
My roots are in the labour and trade union movement. I joined the Labour party in my late teens in 1988. (You can join or just find out more about the Labour Party by clicking here.) Seven years
later, after some time spent volunteering and campaigning for my local Labour Party branch, I found myself helping to lead a successful campaign in the London borough of Ealing. In 1998, I was
elected as a councillor for the London borough of Hillingdon, a role which I have been asked to continue to serve, albeit in a diminished capacity, until the end of my term in May 2002. In 1999, I
was proud to be selected as one of the youngest candidates in the 1999 European parliamentary elections.
First-hand experience of local government is undoubtedly a good foundation for the role of an MP but nothing can really prepare for you the real thing. On 7 June 2001, I succeeded Tess Kingham as
MP for Gloucester. I was elected with a majority of nearly four thousand. It’s a day I will never forget. I still stand by what I said in my acceptance speech: ‘First and foremost, I will be a
hard-working constituency MP.’ I used my maiden speech to raise a number of issues: from the sentencing of hard drug dealers to issues of race both in Gloucester and in Westminster. I ended by
saying: ‘The people of Gloucester are its greatest asset, and I shall do my utmost to deliver for them a city that is fit for them - a modern, confident and dynamic city that is fit for the 21st
century.’
On 5 May 2005 I was re-elected as the MP for Gloucester with an increased majority - one of the few seats in the country to have a swing from Tory to Labour. In the following reshuffle I was
appointed to the Government as a Whip. In the May 2006 reshuffle, I was privileged to be appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families. And in the 2007 reshuffle, I was appointed Minister for Cohesion and Neighbourhoods in the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Parliamentary record
I have contributed in many debates in the House of Commons; you can read my contributions by clicking here. I have also led many
adjournment debates in Parliament concerning Gloucester, such as; saving Longlevens Post Office and tackling fly-tipping in our city. I have also tabled many parliamentary questions; you can read
the full list of these questions by clicking here.
Other interests
I’m a keen sports fan. When I can I go to watch Gloucester’s Rugby team, just around the corner from where I used to live in
Kingsholm. I’m also an ardent football fan; however my loyalties are divided between Liverpool and Gloucester City.
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