I have been Member of Parliament for Darlington since 1992.

I was opposition Spokesperson for Health from 1995-96 and was Shadow Economic Secretary from 1996 until 1997. 

I became a Minister of State in the Department of Health in 1997 and Chief Secretary to the Treasury in December of that year. From 1999 until 2003, I was Secretary of State for Health.

I returned to the Cabinet in 2004 as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and coordinated the Labour Party’s 2005 General Election Campaign.

Before being elected to Parliament, I worked in business development and for a trade union research centre.