Born in Salford in 1953, Gerry Sutcliffe soon moved to Bradford where his journey to the top tiers of British politics began. Gerry left Cardinal Hinsley Grammar School at 16 to work as a salesman for local department store Brown Muffs. He continued studying during his spare time at Bradford College, where he met his wife Maria.

Time at the Telegraph & Argus newspaper followed, before he joined Fields Printers in Lidget Green in 1975. Here, he put his feet firmly on the political ladder; getting more and more involved in the printing union SOGAT (now Amicus). Soon it was Gerry the Union Deputy Branch Secretary, then not long after, Gerry the Councillor. By 1992, he was the Labour Leader of Bradford Council and a proud Father to three sons.

Tragedy struck in 1994 when the MP for Bradford South, Bob Cryer, died in a car crash. In this trying period, thousands turned out to elect Gerry to represent the constituency he grew up in.

He battled for a long list of improvements in the area and soon got noticed in Parliament as a result. Gerry did stints at the Treasury and Whip's office before he became Consumer Affairs Minister at the Department for Trade & Industry. Gerry then worked at the Home Office and Ministry for Justice until he was promoted in June 2007 to succeed Richard Caborn as Sports Minister. High on the political career ladder, his determination to build a better Bradford remains as strong as ever.

Gerry is regularly out and about working for Bradford South, but when time allows, he likes to see his grandchildren, watch football and listen to Frank Sinatra.