Biography

Profile:
Ian Austin was brought up in Dudley and has lived in the Borough most of his life. He served as a member of Dudley Council between 1991 and 1995. He went to the Dudley School and has a degree in government and politics from Essex University.

Ian entered the House of Commons in 2005. He takes a great interest in industrial, economic, employment, training and housing issues. Before his election he worked in government as political adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown. He was appointed a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Gordon Brown in 2007.

Born:
6 March 1965

Educated:
St Edmund’s Primary, Russells Hall Middle School, The Dudley School (now Castle High), University of Essex.

Background:

    * Labour Member of Parliament for Dudley North since 2005
    * Political adviser to Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer 1999–2005
    * Deputy Director of Communications, Scottish Labour Party 1998-1999
    * West Midlands Regional Press Officer, the Labour Party 1995–1998
    * Constituency Assistant/Researcher 1994-1995
    * Councillor for Coseley East on Dudley MBC 1991-1995
    * Communications Manager, Focus Housing 1989-1994

Other Interests:
Football, cycling, literature.