I was born into a close-knit local family and have lived in our Pudsey Constituency for almost all of my life, in Calverley, Farsley, Rawdon and now in Horsforth with my wife Gemma and our little boy Joseph. 

I got involved with local politics and the Labour Party at a young age, spurred on by the Tory mismanagement of our economy and their disregard for public services, and having seen firsthand how Tory policies affected my family and our local communities. 

Having been politically active in Pudsey for many years I know the area well. I have a history of campaigning for local people and getting stuck in and engaging with the local community all year round. Labour's investment has transformed our local schools, improved frontline health services, ended poverty pay for many local people and improved support for pensioners - we must not let the Tories back in.

I have spent my entire career representing the people in our local communities. I am a partner in a leading law firm, based in Leeds and Pudsey, and I specialise in representing Trade Unions and their members. I've worked very much at the sharp end, helping those who have lost their jobs and their pensions, and those who have been discriminated against or injured at work, frequently dealing with the most challenging social, welfare and legal problems. 

I represent ordinary working people everyday and am totally driven by standing up for those less able to represent themselves. I intend to use my 15 years of experience in dealing with challenging legal, social and welfare problems on behalf of local people to good effect. My experience means I can and will be a strong advocate for every constituent who needs help. 

Representing others is at the very heart of the Labour Party and as your candidate I will work hard for our community and be and effective spokesman for local people. I want to be our MP not just to continue my work representing others but to fight to change the injustices that I see every day in our local communities. I want to help make a real difference.

I am an active and committed Trade Unionist, and am a member of both Unite and Unison. I am chair of a Unite Branch with over 500 members, and am a delegate to the Leeds Trades Council and my Regional Industrial Committee. I have led national campaigns, negotiating directly with senior members of the Government to protect the most vulnerable in our communities including temporary agency workers, the low paid, and asbestos victims. 

In the wider Leeds community I run an advice shop for the elderly, and I am a school governor at both a primary and a secondary school. I have been privileged to sit on a number of national bodies, including the Advisory Council of Unions 21, the National Council of Britain in Europe and Labour's Middle East Council. I enjoy fundraising and supporting charities, and have volunteered on behalf of Action Aid and St Georges Crypt. I am a member of the Co-op Party, the Fabian Society, the Institute of Employment Rights and Labour's Animal Welfare Society. 

Across Yorkshire, I sit as a member of the Party's Regional Board, and its Executive. Nationally I am an elected member of the National Policy Forum, having represented all Yorkshire & Humber Constituency Labour Party's since 2002. I was re-elected at Party Conference in 2007, topping the poll of party members. I am one of four Party members from across the UK elected to sit on the Joint Policy Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, and responsible for policy making and helping to shape the Party's Election manifesto.

It has been a great privilege to have been asked to represent our Party and the UK internationally. In 2005, I was the UL representative accompanying former President Jimmy Carter and other international leaders to oversee the Palestinian Presidential elections. In 2008, I led a small team to meet with the leadership of our sister parties in Serbia, advising them about policy development, campaigning techniques, media management and membership engagement. 

I can think of no greater privilege than representing the area where I have lived for almost all my life in Parliament. I will stand up for the values of justice, equality and fairness to keep Pudsey Labour and tirelessly fight for what is best for the people of our Constituency.