He was a writer, television producer and politician. He was under a
good deal of pressure from party and colleagues insisting on
introducing his Vasectomy Bill in 1972.
He was seconded to the Royal West African Frontier Force spending 18
months in Gambia training African soldiers - a formative experience and
one that led to a lifelong interest in Commonwealth affairs.
Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Labour Party
representing the East Midlands until his death. Labour MP for Derby
North from 1970 to 1983
Educated at Lady Manners' Grammar School, Bakwell, Derbyshire and
Exeter College, Oxford.
In 1969 he was the youngest ever winner of the Guild of TV Producers
Award for Factual Programmes and 25 years later he won the Broadcasting
Press Guild Best Documentary Award and Emmy Award for Best Script for
his programme "The Kennedys".
Chairman of Brook Lapping Productions from 2002.
Labour Member of Parliament (1970-1983) and Member of the European
Parliament from 1994 until his death.