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Alan's Political Achievements

1992:

  • General Secretary, Union of Communication Workers
  • Youngest ever General Secretary of Union of Communication Workers.
  • Led "Stand By Your Post" campaign in 1994 forcing Michael Heseltine and the Tories to abandon Post Office privatisation.
  • Only Union leader to support abolition of Clause 4.

1995:

  • General Secretary, Communication Workers Union (joint with Tony - now Lord - Young).
  • Forged merger with National Communications Union to create the Communication Workers Union.

1997:
Alan meets a young constituent

  • Became MP for Hull West and Hessle and appointed as PPS to Paymaster General, Dawn Primarolo.

1999:

  • Junior Minister at Department of Trade and Industry
  • Delivered legislation to increase maternity leave and pay as well as introducing paternity, adoption and parental leave and right to request flexible working.
  • Introduced collective bargaining and statutory recognition for unions.
  • Negotiated financial support package for rural post offices.

2003:

  • Minister of State for Higher Education, Department for Education and Skills.
  • Took through variable tuition fees.
  • Initiated the Foster Review into Further Education.

2004:

  • Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
    First ex-Union leader in Cabinet since 60s.
  • Championed the idea of a Citizen Pension to help women gain full pension rights which was later recommended by Turner Commission.
  • Set out the blueprint for reform of Incapacity Benefit which is the core of the new Welfare Reform Bill.

2005:

  • Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
  • Delivered measures to stop discrimination against gay and lesbian people in relation to goods and services.
  • Enhanced paternity leave by establishing up to 6 months paid leave transferable to the father when the mother returns to work.
  • Extended the right to request flexible working to carers.
  • Struck a deal to resolve the pensions dispute with nurses, teachers and civil servants.
  • Drove forward delivery of key aspects of the Warwick agreement including a commitment on paid bank holidays.

2006: Alan cutting a celebratory cake

  • Secretary of State for Education and Skills
  • Secured Common's support and Royal Assent for controversial education legislation - the Education & Inspections Act 2006 ñ with a reduced Labour rebellion.
  • Set out new package to improve school meals, reintroduce cooking and better train school cooks.
  • Produced wide ranging and radical Children in Care Green paper.
  • Developed plans to promote community cohesion in all schools.