What is your first political memory?
My very first memory is from summer 1979, in the car on the way to Chester Zoo, and my dad pointing out a ‘Don’t blame us – we voted Labour’ car sticker, and him laughing at it. After that, I have vivid memories of mornings on the school bus in 1984 and passing miners on strike outside Parkside Colliery, Newton-le-Willows. Not long after, I joined the Labour party.
Who is your political hero?
Neil Kinnock, who played a difficult hand of cards with great skill, humour and dignity and had an unbelievable capacity to stir political passions. He was a true Labour hero who kept the party together and has since stayed loyal to his successors. I’ll always remember the day he came into Millbank during the 1997 campaign. He had asked for no fuss but word got round and people rose as one from their desks in a standing ovation. It was an emotional interlude in an otherwise business-like campaign.
Which public figure outside politics do you most admire?
It’s hard to narrow it down to one. Doreen Lawrence, Bob Geldof and Billy Bragg all spring to mind for different reasons.
If you were granted one political wish, what would it be?
To create a state education system so good in all parts of the country, particularly the most deprived areas, that private schools become financially unviable.
When you were a child, what did you want to be?
I wanted to play football for Everton. Two years ago, I got as close to fulfilling it as I ever will when I helped bring Everton to Leigh to play a friendly against Leigh RMI. In a complete abuse of my position, I persuaded RMI to bring me on as a late substitute in the hope of impressing but, after just one touch of the ball, I’m still waiting for the call.
If Channel Four had a ‘Big Brother parliament special’ whom would you nominate for eviction first?
There are a number of Ulster Unionists with whom I don’t feel I have a great deal in common.
If you had to be stranded on a desert island with someone from the opposition benches, who would it be?
Peter Kilfoyle.
Apart from political engagements, how do you spend the weekend?
I wish I could say all kinds of impressive cultural things but my weekends tend to revolve around three things: enjoying time at home with my wife and two children after the week away, football, and beer.
What’s the strangest gift you have ever received as an MP?
‘Pee-balls’ from the Prostate Cancer Charter.
What would be your desert island disc and book?
Disc – a toss-up between the Essential Billy Bragg and Rum, Sodomy and the Lash by the Pogues. Book – the Complete Works of William Shakespeare.
If you were able to spend an hour with one dead historical figure, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Keir Hardie. What do you think of our first hundred years? What do we do with the next?