The Rt. Hon Stephen first entered Parliament through a by-election in 1994 as MP for Newham North East, being re-elected to the new constituency of East Ham in May, 1997

Stephen was born in 1955 and was educated at Farnborough Grammar School before reading mathematics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He has lived in Newham since 1979.

Before entering Parliament, Mr Timms worked in the telecommunications industry for 15 years.

He was elected to Newham Council in 1984 and chaired the planning committee from 1987 to 1990 before serving as Leader of the Council from 1990 to 1994.

In addition to his ministerial responsibilities Stephen Timms is also concerned with regeneration in East London - including regeneration partnerships, the Thames Gateway initiative, Stratford international station on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and health service funding. Also, he is a member of the Ramblers Association and a patron of the Christian Socialist Movement.

Parliamentary appointments:

January 2008 - appointed Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform at the Department for Work and Pensions.

June 2007 - Minister for Competitiveness at the newly formed Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, where he was responsible for enterprise, growth and business investment. His large portfolio included strengthening regional companies, corporate social responsibility, E-commerce, Construction and Communications. Industry.

May 2006 - appointed to the Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

May 2005 Minister for Pensions Reform at the Department for Work and Pensions.

September 2004 - appointed as Financial Secretary to the Treasury for the second time before becoming the Minister for Pensions Reform in the Department for Work and Pensions.

June 2003 - Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services.

May 2002 - Minister of State for E-Commerce and Competitiveness.

June 2001 - Minister of State for School Standards at the Department for Education and Skills.

July 1999 - appointed as Financial Secretary at HM Treasury.

January 1999 - served as Minister of State at the Department of Social Security.

July 1998 - first ministerial appointment was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the (then) Department for Social Security.

February 1998 - Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office.

May 1997- Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department for Education and Employment.