Constituency : Rochdale 2005-2010
Paul took Rochdale from Labour at the second attempt.
Paul was educated at my alma mater, Bishop Henshaw School in Rochdale and Nottingham University.He became a science teacher and taught in Nottinghamshire and Oldham before becoming a deputy head at a school in Bradford . Paul became a Rochdale councillor in the eighties and was Cyril Smith's preferred successor but the party chose Liz Lynne instead. He was leader of the council from 1992 to 1996. He got his first parliamentary chance when Lynne left town after her defeat in 1997 but fell further behind Labour in 2001. The Iraq war changed all that and he edged out Blair babe Lorna Fitzsimmons by 444 votes. He is a Catholic.
Paul was a spokesman on work and pensions and a whip . He is a member of the Beveridge Group. He was criticised during the expenses scandal for using his allowances for party political purposes although it was all within the rules.
Although boundary changes made the seat notionally Labour going into 2010, Paul's defeat in 2010 was a surprise given that Gordon Brown's notorious "bigoted woman" gaffe took place in Rochdale during the campaign. Labour's vote dipped slightly but won the seat due to Tory voters forgetting to vote tactically in their enthusiasm for David Cameron.
Paul is noted for his deep tan.
Paul is a director of a Ugandan property company and the Light Rail Transit Association.
He is now 64.
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