I have been the MP for Dundee West since May 2005 and am proud to have lived in Dundee for most of my life and represent the people from my community in Parliament. I currently live in the Law area with my wife Norma, and we have two grown up children.

I was born in 1956 in Glasgow but moved to Dundee when I was nine years old. I left school aged 15 and begun an apprenticeship as a glazier at 16 doing this job for 14 years until being made redundant in 1987. I then worked as a glazier with Dundee District Council Public Works Department for 10 years.

Throughout my employment with Dundee District Council I was very active within my Trade Union the GMB and in 1997 I started working full time for them as a Trade Union Organiser.