Mike O'Brien

Mike originates from Worcester and trained as a lawyer in Birmingham. His late father worked on the railway and his mother was a school dinner lady and later a cleaner for the Royal Mail until she was 72 yeras old. He recalls, "My parents worked hard, they believed in doing the right thing and helping others and brought us up that way.

"My interest in politics came when the Conservative Council put up the rent on our council house and my parents were worried about it. The Labour Party opposed it and as a fifteen year old I asked if I could help distribute leaflets. I have been involved ever since. Despite its faults, I still believe only the Labour Party really looks after working people and seeks social justice and greater equality in Britain."

Mike is the first member of his family to graduate.  After training as a lawyer, Mike was a college lecturer until 1997 when he began practising as a solicitor specialising in criminal law until his election in 1992. He married Alison, who is also from Worcester, in 1987 and they have two daughters.