Alan was a Labour MP from 1997 to 2017. During that time he held numerous cabinet positions, including Home Secretary, Secretary of State for Education and Skills and Secretary of State for Health.
His hobbies include music, tennis, reading, cookery, football (especially Queens Park Rangers) and radio.
Orphaned at the age of 13, Alan was then brought up by his sister Linda, who was only 3 years older than he was. Linda has been recognised as the hero of Alan’s poignant 2013 autobiography ‘This Boy: A Memoir of Childhood’. Alan has been an active patron of Family Rights Group for many years.