Roger Godsiff

Roger Godsiff has been the Labour MP for Birmingham Sparkbrookand Small Heath since 1997. He contested Birmingham Yardleyin 1983 and from 1992 to 1997 represented Birmingham SmallHeath. Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament he served asa member of Lewisham Council from 1971 to 1990 and was Mayorin 1977.

He worked in banking for five years before spending 20 yearsworking for APEX (which later became part of the GMB) as theunion?s Political Officer.

He is a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party backbenchcommittees on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Treasury. Hewas a Chairperson of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmirfrom 1992 to 2001 and is currently the Chairman of the All PartyParliamentary Group on Japan, a position which he has held for manyyears. He is also currently Secretary of the All Party SouthAfrica and Botswana Groups and Joint Secretary of the VietnamGroup.

He has strong interest in the whole field of foreignaffairs and the European Union and he is a member of the Councilfor a Social Europe.

Roger Godsiff has a long and abiding interest in sport and apartfrom being a lifelong supporter of Charlton Athletic Football Clubhe chairs the Charlton Athletic Charitable Trust which runsmulti-million projects amongst disadvantaged and disengaged groupsin the South of England.

Roger Godsiff is married with one son and onedaughter.