This Journalist and author, who studied law at the University of Hull
has been MP for Sunderland South since 1987.
His books include the novels: "A Very British Coup" (1982), "The Last
Man Out of Saigon" (1986), and "The Year of the Fire Monkey" (1991) as
well as the non fiction "Error of judgement - The Truth About the
Birmingham Bombings".
As a member of the House of Commons he has been a member of the Home
Affairs Select Committee 1992-99 and 2001 -; chairman 1997-99 and
2001-2003 and of the Standard and Privileges Committee 2006 - date He
has also served as a Minister, as Parliamentary Under Secretary of
State: Foreign and Commonwealth Office, June 2003 - May 2005 Department
of Environment, Transport and the Regions, 1999-2001. Department of
International Development, 2001 (Feb-June).