Biography
Born:
5 April 1959, Kingswinford
Educated:
Glynne Primary School, Kingswinford
Crestwood School (formerly Brierley Hill Grammar School)
Balliol College Oxford BA Hons Philosophy, Politics and Economics,
University of Warwick MA in Industrial Relations and PhD in Industrial and Business Studies
Parliamentary Career:
Ian was elected MP for Dudley West (which later became Dudley South) in 1994 the first Labour by-election victory under Tony Blair’s leadership.
June 2007 : Minister of State (Minister for Science and Innovation) in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
May 2006-June 2007: Minister of State for Climate Change and Environment in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
May 2005-May 2006: Minister of State (Minister for Trade), Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade and Industry
November 2002-May 2005: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, The Northern Ireland Office
2001-2002: Government Whip
1999-2001: Member of the Education and Employment Select Committee
1997-1998: Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Paymaster General
1995-1997: Member of the Treasury Select Committee
Previous career:
From 1989 to 1994 Ian worked at WMEB Group, becoming joint chief executive. WMEB, a West Midlands-based economic development company, provides development capital to small and medium sized companies and consultancy to a range of public and private sector clients.
Before WMEB he worked for a firm of strategic policy consultants. He was Deputy Director of the Urban Trust (1987-88), a researcher at the University of Warwick (1983-87) and a Local Government Officer with the Labour Party (1985-87).
Personal:
Ian lives in the Dudley borough with his wife Annette, daughters Elizabeth and Helen, and son George. Outside politics, his interests include rugby (he was still playing for Stourbridge RFC at the time of his election), literature, architecture and the fluctuating fortunes of West Bromwich Albion FC.