David was first elected to Parliament in 2001 and was re-elected in the 2005 Election and then again in 2010.
David has had a number of roles in Parliament over that period including the member of the Broadcasting Committee, the Scottish Affairs Committee, Department for Work and Pensions, was PPS to the Secretary of Energy and Climate Change, and up to the recent election he was Vice Chair of the Defence Committee.
Following the 2010 General Election he was appointed by the Labour Party Leader as Scottish Opposition Whip. Whips are MPs or Lords appointed by each party in Parliament to help organise their party's contribution to parliamentary business. One of their responsibilities is making sure the maximum number of their party members vote, and vote the way their party wants.
Whips frequently act as tellers (counting votes in divisions). They also manage the pairing system whereby Members of opposing parties both agree not to vote when other business (such as a select committee visit) prevents them from being present at Westminster.
David is also an active member of a number of other groups/committees including:-
Backbench Committees - Scottish Labour MPs 2001 - elected to Executive in 2002
PLP Trade and Industry
PLP Trade Union Group
PLP Socialist Group
PLP Parliamentary Affairs Group
All-Party Groups - Non-profit-making Members Clubs Group
Older People’s Health Group
British Singapore Group
British Russian Group
Burma Group
Cyprus Group
Gibralter Group
British/American Group
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Special Interests - Economic development
Transport
Social Inclusion
Energy
Biotechnology
