I was born in 1951 and brought up in Annan, Dumfriesshire where I still live with my wife Christine (far left in the picture).  We have two daughters, Sarah (back left) and Gillian (back right), and four grandchildren.

Before becoming an MP I worked for ICI for 23 years, where I joined the Transport and General Workers’ Union, holding various positions including Branch Secretary. 

I was also Workers Convener at ICI Powfoot for six years.  Infact it was my Trade Union activities that led to me to join the Labour Party in 1978.  I have held the posts of Branch Secretary and Branch Chairman and Constituency Vice-Chair. 

I served as a Labour Councillor for 11 years (from 1986 to 1997) and was group leader of the Labour Group up until May 1997, previously holding the posts of Group Chair and Group Secretary.  As a Councillor I chaired the Regional Council Public Protection Committee from 1990 to 1994. I was also a Justice of the Peace from 1988 until May 1997. 

In May 1997 I was proud to be elected as Member of Parliament for Dumfries Constituency becoming the first Labour MP for the constituency, to add to my other political firsts as the first Labour candidate elected to the old Annandale and Eskdale District Council, and the first Labour Councillor from that district to be elected to Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council.

After being proud to serve as the MP for Dumfries Constituency for eight years, another political first became a reality when I was elected as the first MP for the new Dumfries and Galloway seat with a majority of nearly 3,000.

Since the election I have served as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) for successive Secretaries of State for Scotland Alistair Darling, Douglas Alexander and the current Secretary Des Browne, having served as PPS to two previous Leaders of the House of Lords.