Menzies Campbell endorses our Speaker principles

mySociety asked likely candidates for the post of Speaker to endorse the following principles.

The three principles are:

  1. Voters have the right to know in detail about the money that is spent to support MPs and run Parliament, and in similar detail how the decisions to spend that money are settled upon.
  2. Bills being considered must be published online in a much better way than they are now, as the Free Our Bills campaign has been suggesting for some time.
  3. The Internet is not a threat to a renewal in our democracy, it is one of its best hopes. Parliament should appoint a senior officer with direct working experience of the power of the Internet who reports directly to the Speaker, and who will help Parliament adapt to a new era of transparency and effectiveness.

Update: Menzies Campbell MP replied in 19 days. He endorses the principles. Here's the reply in full:

Although I have not declared myself to be a candidate I am like all MPs immensely interested in the outcome of the election for Speaker.

I am happy to endorse the three principles you set out on behalf of TheyWorkForYou.com.

Transparency in financial matters, easy access to proposed legislation, and effective use of new technologies are all necessary features of a modern Parliament which embraces change.

This data was produced by TheyWorkForYou from a variety of sources.

Photo of Menzies Campbell

Menzies Campbell

Liberal Democrat MP for Fife North East


  • Entered Parliament on 11 June 1987 — General election
  • Majority: 12,571 votes. — 94th out of 643 MPs.

Voting record (from PublicWhip)

How Menzies Campbell voted on key issues since 2001:

  • Voted a mixture of for and against a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
  • Voted moderately for introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
  • Voted very strongly 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 moderately against the hunting ban. votes, speeches
  • Voted strongly for equal gay rights. votes, speeches
  • Voted very strongly for laws to stop climate change. votes, speeches

Read about how the voting record is decided.

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

Committees and topics of interest

Select Committee membership
  • Member, Intelligence and Security (Cabinet Office) Committee (since 25 Nov 2008)
  • Member, Foreign Affairs Committee (since 18 Apr 2008)

Asks most questions about

  • Departments: Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Defence, Trade and Industry, Work and Pensions, Home Department

  • Subjects (based on headings added by Hansard): Iraq, Stolen Equipment, Fraud, Arms Exports, Export Licences

(based on written questions asked by Menzies Campbell and answered by departments)

RSS feed Most recent appearances

Written Answers — Defence: Defence: Inflation Index (1 Jul 2009)

“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in establishing a defence-specific inflation index.”

Oral Answers to Questions — Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Topical Questions (30 Jun 2009) has video

“Last week, the Foreign Secretary repeated the Prime Minister's claim that the Iraq inquiry had not been set up to establish civil or criminal liability. Does that mean that the Government propose to grant legal immunity to any witness who gives evidence to the inquiry—and if so, by what means?”

More of Menzies Campbell's recent appearances

Numerology

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 22 debates in the last year — average amongst MPs.
  • Has received answers to 41 written questions in the last year — above average amongst MPs.
  • Is a member of 2 select committees (0 as chair).
  • Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a medium number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2007, according to constituents.
  • Has voted in 59% of votes in parliament with this affiliation — below average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
  • People have made 15 annotations on this MP’s speeches — above average amongst MPs.
  • This MP's speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 20–21 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
  • 66 people are tracking whenever this MP speaks — email me whenever Menzies Campbell speaks.
  • Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 792 times in debates — well above average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)

Register of Members' Interests

1. Remunerated directorships
Scottish American Investment Company PLC (£15,001-£20,000)
2. Remunerated employment, office, profession etc
Queen's Counsel. (Resumed practice at the Bar with effect from 1 January 2008.)
Advance under contract with Hodder & Stoughton for autobiographical book. (£35,001-£40,000)
Fees for two appearances on ITV's 'The Book Quiz'. (Up to £5,000) (Registered 7 January 2009)
4. Sponsorship or financial or material support
Donation from JRSST Charitable Trust to support research for a report dealing with the military covenant and related issues. (Registered 27 October 2008)
5. Gifts, benefits and hospitality (UK)
Whilst travelling to London from the United States in my capacity as Chancellor of St Andrew's University on 1 November 2008, I was upgraded from Business to First Class by British Airways. (Registered 12 November 2008)
Whilst travelling on parliamentary business from London to Washington on 13 December, I was upgraded from Premium Economy to Business Class by British Airways. (Registered 19 December 2008)

Register last updated: 24 Jun 2009. More about the Register

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

Expenses

Figures in brackets are ranks. Data from parliament.uk (source). Read 2004/05 – 2007/08 receipts.

Type2007/08 (ranking out of 645)2006/07 (ranking out of 645)2005/062004/05 (ranking out of 659)2003/04 (ranking out of 658)2002/03 (ranking out of 657)2001/02 (ranking out of 657)
Additional Costs Allowance£22,570 (258th) £16,667 (475th) £10,964 £15,071 (487th) £16,450 (423rd) £12,098 (570th) £13,686 (463rd)
London Supplement£0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Incidental Expenses Provision£13,039 (517th) £15,243 (553rd) £19,518 £14,658 (501st) £14,399 (578th) £12,586 (592nd) £12,642 (437th)
Staffing Allowance£90,794 (161st) £87,587 (141st) £73,756 £64,738 (552nd) £62,845 (545th) £62,728 (381st) £46,414 (298th)
Communications Allowance£3,294 (519th) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Members' Travel£14,406 (91st)* £17,440 (33rd)** £13,449 £20,383 (52nd) £18,467 (74th) £11,793 (255th) £14,875 (76th)
Members' Staff Travel£320 (271st) £268 (joint 295th) £370 £1,006 (joint 186th) £0 £808 (196th) £1,258 (100th)
Members' Spouse Travel£955 (128th) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Members' Family Travel£0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Centrally Purchased Stationery£797 (315th) £1,231 (213th) £747 £709 (399th) £819 (347th) £640 (joint 500th) £1,254 (243rd)
Stationery: Associated Postage Costs£2,883 (250th) £3,259 (255th) £3,088 £2,745 (297th) £2,305 (358th) N/A N/A
Centrally Provided Computer Equipment£1,323 (joint 157th) £1,115 (joint 227th) £1,725 £1,725 (joint 503rd) £1,725 (joint 494th) £1,725 (joint 467th) £0
Other Costs£6,731 (21st) £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total£157,112 (140th) £142,810 (218th) £123,617 £121,035 (joint 380th) £117,010 (375th) £102,378 (518th) £90,129 (289th)

* Regular journeys between home/constituency/Westminster: Mileage £482 (559th). Rail £2,895 (298th). Air £11,029 (29th).

** Car £2,500 (365th). Rail £2,475 (298th). Air £12,249 (27th). European £216 (118th).