text: A noted left-winger, he voted with the Campaign Group of Labour MPs on most issues, although he voted consistently against abortion on demand.In 1975, he tried introducing a bill to abolish corporal punishment in schools and his efforts formed part of the case presented to the European Commission on Human Rights which led eventually to abolition.He voted against the Blair Government's proposals to cut benefits for children of lone parents, abolish student grants and introduce tuition fees.