Before becoming an MP, I worked as a probation officer, an academic and as a politician in both local and national politics.  I graduated from Manchester University in 1971 and undertook postgraduate research at both Manchester and Liverpool universities.  I was awarded an MSc in 1978 for my research into the experience and treatment of schizophrenia.

Having qualified and worked in Merseyside as a probation officer, I was subsequently appointed Lecturer in the Department of Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Manchester.  My research and interests included criminal justice; elderly people; residential care; women; child-sexual abuse; adoption and fostering.  I have published many academic articles and texts and I was appointed Senior Lecturer and Head of Department in 1994. 

I was elected to Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council in 1986. As Vice Chair of the Personnel Committee I introduced new working practices including a flexible working hours scheme, and an equal opportunities policy.  I became Leader of the Labour Group in 1992 and Leader of the Council in 1995, until my election to the House of Commons in 1997. 

As Leader of the Council I tried to introduce new approaches to economic regeneration in the Borough and to modernise the Council, including the way we set budgets.  I introduced a range of measures to develop key priorities in education, communication with the public, access to services and quality audit.  In my role as Council Leader, I was also a Director of several publicly owned companies including Trafford Park Development Corporation, Manchester Airport plc, and a Founder-Director and first Chair of Midas, an inward investment company established and owned by a partnership of five public bodies.

I was elected as Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston in 1997.  From June 1997 I served as a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee until my appointment as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Hilary Armstrong, Minister of State for Local Government and Housing in July 1998.  In July 1999, the Prime Minister appointed me as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, with responsibility for Local Government, regeneration, regions, planning and construction. 

Following the general election in June 2001, I was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Home office, with responsibility for prisons, child protection, sentencing and law reform, probation, mentally disordered offenders, coroners, and policy on sex offenders.  Whilst in this post, I took through the emergency Crime and Anti-Terrorism Legislation, which was passed in December 2001, following the events of September 11^th.

I am currently Minister of State at the Home Office , with responsibility for Citizenship, Immigration and Community Cohesion and work with David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, on Counter Terrorism.