I joined the Labour Party in 1976 and the ILP (Independent Labour Publications) in 1978. I studied International Relations with French at Sussex and was full-time Convenor for Sussex Area NUS. After periods of work as a trainee station manager, co-op education officer, FE lecturer, I started work with Harry Barnes MP in 1987. We organised London Against the Poll Tax in the late 80s. Ireland has been a major interest and I was an organiser of the British-Irish Peace Train Organisation (which assembled broad coalition against terrorism) and currently Chair of the cross-party New Dialogue peace group. Freelance journalist. Member of Beckenham CLP, TGWU and NUJ.