Holding the demanding Agriculture portfolio Nick Brown has been under severe pressure from farmers' unions to ease the plight of cattle and sheep farmers. This week he announced £150m of new Treasury money to alleviate the crisis in British farming. He has contributed to getting the UK beef export ban lifted and has promised to secure the end of the beef on the bone ban. He has represented the Tyneside area for 20 years, first as councillor and then as MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne East. He started his political life as a local councillor and in opposition was a spokesman on legal matters, the Treasury, health, and then deputy chief whip. He has served on Labour's front bench since 1985 as chief whip and has also been shadow leader of the House. When he admitted his homosexuality in November 1998 the prime minister and fellow ministers rallied round to support him. Before entering politics he advertised soap powders, managed a chain of launderettes and was legal advisor for the GMB union.