He was born in Belfast and educated at St John's School, Brixton, Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School in Kennington, York University and the London School of Economics.
During the 1970s and 1980s he was a prominent member of the Greater London Council representing Hammersmith (1970-1977) and Tooting (1981-1986). From 1983 to 1997 was the Labour MP for Newham North West and has represented West Ham since 1997.