MP for Ashfield since 1992, Geoff Hoon is Secretary of State for Transport.

He has held a number of Cabinet positions, including Chief Whip, Secretary of State for Defence and Leader of the House of Commons.

Mr Hoon has also worked as Minister for Europe, Parliamentary Secretary and Minister of State in the Lord Chancellor's Department and had a spell at the Foreign Office as Minister of State for Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa.

Before becoming Labour's MP for Ashfield, Mr Hoon was a member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 1994.

Mr Hoon practised as a barrister and lectured in law at Leeds University before entering Parliament. He also worked at the University of Louisville as a visiting professor of law.

He is married and has one son and two daughters.