Eric Joyce MP was born on the 13th October 1960. He lived in Perth with his family for most of his infant and teenage years before joining the army in 1978. Initially a private in the Black Watch, Eric went on to attend the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Adjutant General's Corps in 1987. During his time in the army, Eric served in the UK, Northern Ireland, Germany and Central America.

He left the army in 1999 and served as the Public Affairs Officer at the Commission for Racial Equality (Scotland) until being elected as MP for Falkirk West in the by-election of December 2000.

Between 1981 and 1987, Eric took time away from the army to attend technical college and University where he gained a BA(Hons) in Religious Studies from Stirling University. After being commissioned as an army officer in 1987, Eric continued his studies part-time and has an MA in Education from Bath University and an MBA from Keele University.

Eric is currently a member of the Fabian Society Executive Committee and is the author of the Fabian pamphlet ‘Arms and the Man'.

Eric is married to Rose, a teacher, and they have twin girls, Megan and Angharad.

In his limited spare time, Eric enjoys climbing, hill walking, judo, and most sports. He is also a former Scottish Judo Champion.

Westminster

Eric's political interests include

• Poverty Reduction
• Equality issues
• Employment and Economic Development
• Energy and Power
• Anti-Drug initiatives
• World Trade and Developing Countries
• Foreign Policy
• Global Security

Eric has previously served as a member of the Scottish Affairs and the Procedures select committees at Westminster. He also served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Mike O'Brien MP when Mike was the     Minister for Energy at the Department for Trade & Industry and then to Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP in her roles as Minister for Work at the  Department of Work and Pensions and Minister for Industry and the Regions at the Department of Trade & Industry. Since October 2006, Eric has   been Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon John Hutton MP firstly in his role as Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions and now in his role as Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform.