From law lecturer to close ally of Blair

After entering the Commons in 1992, he enjoyed a rapid rise and held

the position of Europe Minister in the Blair government.

Before becoming a politician, he had been a law lecturer at Leeds University for six years.

Under Mr Brown, he became Chief Whip before moving to the position of Transport Secretary.

The MP for Ashfield in North Nottinghamshire quit the post in June last year during a series of high-profile Cabinet resignations.

Between 1999 and 2005, he held the position of Defence Secretary.

He was tipped to face criticism in the Hutton inquiry into the death of Government scientist David Kelly but escaped unscathed.

His time in the post, which he relinquished following the 2005 general election, coincided with the UK becoming involved in conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the expenses scandal, he paid back 384 he claimed "accidentally" to cover the cost of a TV licence, gas bill and home insurance for his second home in Derbyshire.

Mr Hoon, who put the mistake down to an "inadvertent administrative error", is estimated to have built up a 1.7m property empire.

In 2008, he faced controversy during his time as Chief Whip for reportedly suggesting an official would be "appropriately rewarded" for supporting laws to detain terror suspects for 42 days without charge. He later dismissed the matter as a "light-hearted, jokey remark".

Once a barrister, he became leader of the House of Commons following the 2005 general election, before becoming Minister for Europe the following year.