Tom Harris

Labour MP Glasgow Cathcart

Date of birth

20 February 1964

Political profile

Tom Harris' election in 2001 completed his journey from poacher to gamekeeper.

He started his career as a journalist, and his route to becoming an MP took him via the Labour Party press office and media work for a number of local government bodies and quangos.

His last job before election was head of press for the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive, and he has retained a strong interest in transport, as well as economics and welfare reform.

While an undoubted loyalist, he was a strong supporter of the late John Smith and is thought to be more a "Brownite" than a "Blairite".

In 2003 he was appointed PPS to John Spellar, a junior Northern Ireland Minister.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7219 8237

[e-mail]