Barry Sheerman has been the Labour and Cooperative Member of Parliament for Huddersfield since 1979.

As Chair of the House of Commons Select Committee on Education and Skills he has a strong interest and background in educational issues, playing a key role in education policy and debates.

His interests also include economic affairs, environmental sustainability and transport safety. Mr Sheerman also chairs the Cross Party Group on European Economic Reform for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mr Sheerman is an energetic social and political entrepreneur having initiated over 30 different social enterprises over the past 20 years. He is currently actively involved in Networking for Industry (which runs a number of policy forums and parliamentary groups), the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety, Urban Mines (an environmental charity), and the John Clare Education and Environment Trust, all of which he helped establish.