• Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross
• Entered Parliament on 7 June 2001 — General election
• Majority: 8,168 votes. — 127th out of 631 MPs.
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• Voting record
• Committees and topics of interest
• Recent appearances
• Numerology
• Register of Members’ Interests
• Expenses
• Early Day Motions signed by this MP (From edm.ais.co.uk)

How John Thurso voted on key issues since 2001:

• Has never voted on a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
• Voted a mixture of for and against introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
• Voted moderately against introducing ID cards. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly against introducing foundation hospitals. votes, speeches
• Voted strongly against introducing student top-up fees. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly against Labour's anti-terrorism laws. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly against the Iraq war. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly for an investigation into the Iraq war. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly against replacing Trident. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly against the hunting ban. votes, speeches
• Voted moderately for equal gay rights. votes, speeches

Read about how the voting record is decided.

More on well-known issues (from the Guardian) & their full record

• Occasionally rebels against their party in this parliament.

Select Committee membership

• Member, Treasury Committee (since 26 Apr 2006)
• Member, Advisory Committee on Works of Art (since 1 Nov 2005)
• Member, Administration Committee (since 14 Jul 2005)

Asks most questions about

• Departments: Transport, Scotland, Work and Pensions, Treasury, Trade and Industry

• Subjects (based on headings added by Hansard): Railways, Parliamentary Questions, Civil Servants (Relocation), Tax Credits, Strategic Rail Authority

(based on written questions asked by John Thurso and answered by departments)

Orders of the Day: New Clause 3 — Vehicle excise duty: variation of graduated rates for light passenger vehicles (2 Jul 2008)

“I am delighted to tell the hon. Gentleman that according to the colourful map that I possess, parts of his constituency are included, while small parts of mine, and indeed of his, are not. The detail was published by the Scottish Executive; they are robust figures, and I ask him to take my word for that. There is a strong case for righting an obvious wrong. New clause 14 would permit that to...”

Orders of the Day: New Clause 3 — Vehicle excise duty: variation of graduated rates for light passenger vehicles (2 Jul 2008)

“I rise to speak to new clause 14, which stands in my name and that of several of my hon. Friends. The debate has been fascinating and wide ranging. It would be very tempting to discuss some of the topics that have been debated, but I sense that the House may prefer me to confine my remarks to the new clause, and I shall do so. I have a slight dilemma. As always, I have come well prepared with...”

Orders of the Day: New Clause 3 — Vehicle excise duty: variation of graduated rates for light passenger vehicles (2 Jul 2008)

“My hon. Friend is right on both counts: about the point that he has made and the fact that I would have made it. He has saved me that job. The purpose of the new clause is to find a workable scheme for reducing but not eliminating the premium, to give some relief to people in remote rural areas, where, as my hon. Friend has just said, there is no alternative. In my constituency, there is a...”

More of John Thurso's recent appearances

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Please note that numbers do not measure quality. Also, representatives may do other things not currently covered by this site. (More about this)

• Has spoken in 10 debates in the last year — below average amongst MPs.
• Has received answers to 6 written questions in the last year — below average amongst MPs.
• Is a member of 3 select committees.
• Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a very high number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2007, according to constituents.
• Has voted in 61% of votes in parliament — below average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
• People have made 2 comments on this MP's speeches — below average amongst MPs.
• This MP's speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 16–17 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
• 54 people are tracking whenever this MP speaks — email me whenever John Thurso speaks.
• Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 119 times in debates — average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)

Register last updated: 22 Jul 2008. More about the Register

View the history of this MP's entries in the Register

Figures in brackets are ranks. Parliament's explanatory notes.

^* Car £798 (548th). 3rd party £3,337 (4th). Rail £1,396 (391st). Air £18,241 (5th).