James was first elected as Member of Parliament for the Stalybridge and Hyde constituency in 2001. And since then he has proved himself to be a keen supporter of those who live and work in the area, as well as the many charities and organisations make the area a better place to live.

Among his priorities are the need to improve traffic flow through Longdendale and to increase the educational opportunities on offer to young people in the constituency.

During his time as Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions, James spearheaded the new Welfare Reform Bill - which is currently being considered by Parliament - which aims to end poverty and to ensure people reach their full potential through employment.

Before taking up the Secretary of State role at DWP, James was Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s first cabinet.

And prior to this he was Minister of State for Pensions Reform at the DWP. It was following this that Which? Magazine voted him its Consumer Champion of the Year, for his commitment to consumers in the development of the national pensions savings scheme.

Born in London, in 1970, James spent his early years in France. Back in the UK, he studied his A-levels at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, and then read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Balliol College, Oxford.

During his time at University, he worked as a researcher to former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Tony Blair, who was then Shadow Employment Secretary.

After graduating, he went back to work for Tony Blair until after the 1992 Election.  He then became a strategy consultant in the media sector, and then a research fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research on their media and communications project, where he was credited with coming up with the idea for the regulator OFCOM.

He then went on to become Head of Corporate Planning at the BBC, before returning to work for then Prime Minister Tony Blair as Special Adviser on culture, media, sport and the knowledge economy after the 1997 Election.

After being elected as MP, James served as a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee (2001-2003) and successfully campaigned to get public sector pension schemes to pay widow's pensions to unmarried partners.

In 2003 James became Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Rt. Hon. Ruth Kelly MP in the Cabinet Office. In December 2004 he became an Assistant Whip. And in May 2005 he became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Away from Parliament James enjoys film, music, theatre and football.

Last updated June 8, 2009

Born in London March 2, 1970.