ˈæftɚ lˈiːvɪŋ skˈuːl wɪðˌaʊt kwˌɔlɪfɪkˈeɪʃənz, hiː hæd ɐ nˈʌmbɚɹ ʌv dʒˈɑːbz, ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ æz ɐ ɡɹˈeɪɾɚ mˈæntʃɛstɚ pəlˈiːs kˈɑːnstəbəl, bᵻfˌoːɹ ɹᵻtˈɜːnɪŋ tʊ ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən ænd kwˈɔlᵻfˌaɪɪŋ æz ɐ səlˈɪsɪɾɚ.
After leaving school without qualifications, he had a number of jobs, including as a Greater Manchester Police constable, before returning to education and qualifying as a solicitor.