A Brief Biographical Summary

I spent the first two years of my life in Leicester, on the Netherhall estate, before my parents moved to Birstall in 1966.

My first school was, Birstall Riverside Infant and Junior, and that was followed by Stonehill High School and Longslade Community College, all in my home 'village' of Birstall. I think I can honestly say that I generally enjoyed my school years.

I really enjoyed my early years in Birstall, being heavily involved in the Boys Brigade and the local Methodist Church. It was during this time that I did most of my sport, outdoor pursuits and visits around the UK on walking and adventure holidays. I also developed a strong sense of community and social justice through the Methodist youth group I was involved with.

I returned to Stonehill as a governor (from 88 to 94) before becoming a governor at Sileby Highgate School where I served up until 2006.

At school I did enough to get through academically, but just had a passion for sport. I represented the school at rugby and athletics mainly, but would have a go at almost anything. I was also picked to represent Leicestershire Schools at rugby as well as athletics.

I got involved in politics whilst still in Birstall and joined Birstall Labour Party. I was elected as a Labour Parish Councillor in Birstall in 1987 aged just 21 . I served until 1991. (My decision to get involved in politics is covered elsewhere!)

My higher education was undertaken locally - I completed a BA (Hons) Public Administration degree at De Montfort University (Leicester Polytechnic at the time) in the years between 1983 and 1987, achieving a 11i. During my industrial placement year, though, I worked for the Cheshire Family Practitioner Committee in Chester. I did a degree that I thought would best serve me in my choice to serve the local community by working in the public sector.

I married Sarah in 1992 at Glenfield Methodist Church after we met at County Hall in 1990.

I lived in Sileby after we married – between 1991-97. Here I involved myself in the local school as a governor and the local tennis club as a player. I also took an interest in the future of the village and was elected as a Borough Councillor in May 1995. We started worshipping at St Mary's Church in 1992 and we are still heavily involved there as a family attending most weeks.

I now live in Quorn with my family - Sarah and 2 children. I maintain a strict policy of keeping family privacy and specific priority for time with them.

Employment

Before becoming an MP in the 1997 election, I used my Public Administration degree in the service of the local councils - I simply wanted to serve my local community and thought this was the best way!

First I joined Leicester City Council in 1988 -where I worked in Urban Regeneration on the Inner Area Programme. I then moved to Recreation & Arts as a Project Officer - working with the voluntary sector projects.

I joined Leicestershire County Council in 1990. At the County, I was initially an Employment Officer in the Employment Initiatives Team and then joined the Economic Development Section, again dealing with the voluntary sector employment projects before taking up a post as the European Affairs Officer for the County Council in 1994 - 97.

Interests

My overiding passion is for sport - not just watching but participating.

I have always taken an active interest in 'political' issues, although I don't necessarily regard myself as a politician. In fact the activity of 'politics' bores me. I have held many positions within the Labour Party over the last ten years, including Branch Chair and Secretary, Constituency Chair and Press Officer; representative to the District, County and European Party and member of the Regional Executive.

I was part of the John Smith Leadership campaign team in 1992, as a coordinator for the East Midlands. For me it was an honour to serve John Smith at this time. I also worked on the Clause 4 campaign in 1995 within the Labour Party.

My first elected post, when I was in my early twenties, was as a parish councillor for Birstall, my home village. I was one of only two Labour councillors on the council, but was very honoured to be elected as chair of the Playing Fields Committee within the first couple of years. (It had a staff of 3 and a budget of about £120,000 at 1987 prices)

I was elected to the Sileby Ward of Charnwood Borough Council in the 1995 local elections, serving for two years, before becoming an MP for Loughborough. My particular interests were in economic regeneration and economic partnership - which led to my becoming chair of the Economic Development Committee and a member of the Policy and Finance Committee. I was Vice Chair of the Loughborough Town Partnership and at this time and was very pleased to help it secure a record £14 million regeneration package for Loughborough as part of the Single Regeneration Budget. It was during this time that the Council pedestrianised the market place,appointed a town centre manager and started bringing new economic life to the town centre after years of steady decline. I was also a Board member of the Loughborough Business Link as part of this regeneration effort.

I am one of 29 Labour and Co-op Party MPs in the House of Commons and actively promote the principles of co-operation, both locally and nationally, particularly in the field of economic development, credit unions and the Social Economy. I believe that ethical consumerism will play a vital role in the future and offers a viable alternative - a Third Way! I was able to play a key role in developing Supporters Direct whan I was a PPS in the Department of Culture Media & Sport.

I Chaired East Midlands Sport - the Regional campaigning voice for Sport and recreation in the East Midlands between 2000 and 2003. I have a passion for sport and what it can achieve. I now am Chair of the Board of the County Sports Partnership for Leicestershire (2004-present). I Chair the National Stretegic Partnership for Volunteers in Sport - the umbrella organisation that speaks for Britains Sports Volunteers!

I Chair the Sports Caucus in Parliament - the backbench voice for sport in government circles, as well as belonging to numerous All Party Grops related to sport. In Parliament I play regulalry for the rugby, football, cricket, tennis, hockey and swimming teams.

In 2005 I became a Trustee for the National Energy Foundation. I also hold a number of honory posts in other areas of life. I support a number of Christian bodies - all of these are listed on the Faith @ Work pages.

Charities,Societies and other sports Interests

My membership of other societies includes: the Christian Socialist Movement, Amnesty International, the Campaign for Electoral Reform, Charnwood Racial Equality Council, Leicestershire Co-operative Society and UNISON (the public service union), for whom I was a departmental convener, Service Conditions Officer and conference delegate for a number of years.

I am on the Council of Reference for a few charitable bodies where I have an interest - Sport Pursuit,the Oasis Trust, & Keep Time for Children for example.

I used to sit on the Board of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (but now act from the Council of Reference), again another Charity, who raise the issue of Christian persecution around the world. These bodies have minimal time commitment, but allow me to be kept in touch with interest areas. I receive no payment or expenses from these bodies. I have been a speaker at Spring Harvest for the last few years - a national Christian festival held in Skegness and Minehead. I have written a book about Christian involvement in politics for Headway - "Engage or Escape". I also sat on the Evangelical Alliance 'Faith and Nation Commission' between 2002-2006. In 2008 I was elected to the Council of the Evangelical Alliance.

Locally I also help with a number of Charities - a Trustee of STEPS based in Shepshed; the Loughborough Building Society Community Awards Panel and the regional ME group.

Finally, I am a keen sportsman - still playing rugby for a my local team - Birstall. Where I am also the President. I also enjoyed playing volleyball and tennis for local teams, but time does not allow this to happen as often as I would like. I was also Honory president of Loughborough Football Club for a time. As well as being a regular player for Birstall RFC I am also their President.

In 2008 I became the 2012 Leicestershire Champion.

Leicestershire, of course is a great sporting county - for rugby (Leicester Tigers), football (Leicester City Football Club), cricket (Leicestershire County Cricket Club) and basketball (Leicester Riders).

I enjoy watching all these sports and was delighted to be invited to train with the Leicester Tigers when I visited the club in summer 1998. I am a keen paying member of Leicester Tigers and have supported the formation of the Foxes Trust.

In Parliament (as you can see elsewhere on the site) I participate in a range of sports for charity - including football, rugby, tennis, swimming, hockey, and cricket.

Until 2008 on Friday evenings I turned myself into a Beaver Scout Leader - along with half a million other adults and young people across the UK who are members of The Scout Association. I strongly believe in the Aim of Scouting, which is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities. Beaver Scouts are for boys and girls aged 6-8. My role was to help them take part in a balanced programme and work towards Challenges and Activity Badges. There are opportunities to learn about themselves: explore their feelings and develop good habits of health and personal safety. They get to know people: finding out about those in their family, the family of Scouting, the local community and the wider world. Further information can be found on The Scout Association's website www.scouts.org.uk I now offer my services on an ad hoc basis Quorn Scouts.