He was elected as a Conservative MP for Witney at the 1997 election, having previously been a senior official. He was a front-bench spokesman on London for the Conservative opposition under William Hague.
In 1999 he was sacked for refusing to oppose the repeal of Section 28, a piece of controversial anti-gay legislation, in 1999. He later left the party and defected to the ruling Labour Party. He decided not to contest his Witney seat under the Labour banner, and instead was found a safe seat in Merseyside.
His is married to Camilla Sainsbury, daughter of the former Conservative MP Tim Sainsbury.
See also: Alan Howarth, Peter Temple-Morris.