I was first elected at the 2015 General Election, re-elected in 2017 and re-elected again in 2019 with a significantly increased majority. The constituency includes Atherton, Westhoughton, Blackrod, Horwich, Heaton, Lostock and Smithills.
Prior to entering Parliament, I worked as an engineer in the Mass Spectrometry industry for nearly twenty years, so I feel that I bring a wealth of real world experience to the House of Commons Chamber.
With the Northern Powerhouse and Devolution to Greater Manchester, I want to ensure that Bolton West receives a fair share of investment, prosperity and jobs growth. We need to ensure that our economy is rebalanced between the North and South and between industry and services.
I have previously been elected on to the Science and Technology Select Committee, Work and Pensions Select Committee and the Home Affairs Select Committee. I currently sit on the Health and Social Care Select Committee and the Backbench Business Select Committee. I have also served as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department for Transport, the Department for Education and to the Leader of the House of Lords. I am currently Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Medical Research, Healthcare Infrastructure and Digital Skills. In addition to my role on the executive committee of the Northern Research Group, in July 2022 I was elected to the ruling executive of the 1922 Committee.