Constituency : Harrogate and Knaresborough 1997-2010
Phil's victory was probably the most widely enjoyed of the Liberal Democrat triumphs as he defeated ex-Chancellor Norman Lamont who'd imagined he'd found a safe Northern seat after failing to be selected in London.
Phil was born in Burnley. He was educated at Burnley Grammar School and City of Leeds Carnegie College. He became a teacher and worked his way up to head master by 1978. He was previously a Labour supporter who joined the Liberals in 1985. He became a Harrogate borough councillor in 1988 and was council leader in 1990.
Phil became Shadow Education and Skills Secretary. He was seen as being virtually a shop steward for the head teachers' union. In 2005, he became chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. He considered standing for the leadership after Charles Kennedy's resignation but thought better of it. He was critical of the faddish approach to education policy without clear evidence behind it. He was a strong opponent of teaching creationism in schools.
Phil supported moves to get rid of Trident missiles but was narrowly defeated at the 2007 conference. He announced his decision to step down at the next election following a stroke later that year. He was criticised in the expenses scandal for allowing his daughter to move into a neighbouring flat. He became a life peer in 2010.
He is now 77.
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