TEST MP Alan Whitehead has been MP for Southampton Test since the Labour swept back to power in 1997.

He has lived in Southampton for the last thirty years, has a PhD in political science, and a degree in politics and philosophy from Southampton University.

In 1980 he became a city councillor and then leader of the council when Labour took control in 1984.

He worked in research for two national charities during the 1980s and early 90s, and in 1992 came off the council to became professor of public policy at Southampton Institute, now Southampton Solent University.

As an MP he has been a parliamentary private secretary to the minister for higher and post-16 education from 1999 to 2001. And he served as under-secretary of state for local government from 2001 to 2002.

His special interests include further and higher education, local government, the constitution, environment, energy and transport.

Mr Whitehead helped steer the climate change bill through the Commons and was a member its standards and privileges select committee among others. He was also chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on Poland.

He is a member of the Saints Trust, a Saints season ticket holder, and plays in goal for the UK parliamentary football team.

Locally he is a board member of The Environment Centre and Third Age Centre, both in Southampton.