Voting summaries
MPs have many roles, but one of the most important is that they make decisions. These decisions shape the laws that govern us, and can affect every aspect of how we live our lives.
One of the ways MPs make decisions is by voting.
On TheyWorkForYou, we create voting summaries that group a set of decisions together, show how an MP has generally voted on a set of related votes, and if they differ from their party.
You can see these groups, randomly ordered, below.
You can read more about how this works, the kinds of votes we include, how we compare MPs to parties, and why we think this is important.
These summaries are created by the team at TheyWorkForYou. We are independent of Parliament and receive no public funding for this work.
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Stuart Bell’s voting in Parliament
Stuart Bell was previously a Labour MP, and on the vast majority of issues would have followed instructions from their party and voted the same way as Labour MPs.
However, Stuart Bell sometimes differs from their party colleagues, such as:
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Stuart Bell generally voted against a wholly elected House of Lords; comparable Labour MPs generally voted for. Show votes
1 vote for, 2 votes against, between 2007–2012.
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Stuart Bell generally voted against fewer obstacles for access to abortion; comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for. Show votes
0 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2007–2008.
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Stuart Bell generally voted against measures to prevent climate change; comparable Labour MPs generally voted for. Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2008–2012.
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Stuart Bell generally voted against equal gay rights; comparable Labour MPs generally voted for. Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 4 absences, between 1998–2007.
Stuart Bell has hardly ever rebelled against their party in their last parliament. Find out more.
How Stuart Bell voted on Social Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 1997. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted against equal gay rights Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 4 absences, between 1998–2007. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2006–2011. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted against laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2009–2011. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Generally voted for the hunting ban Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2002–2004. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 29 November 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Stuart Bell voted on Taxation and Employment #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted against encouraging occupational pensions Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010–2011. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Has never voted in a major vote about automatic enrolment in occupational pensions Show votes
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2010.
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Consistently voted against raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes
0 votes for, 7 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted against higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes
0 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, in 2012. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted against higher taxes on banks Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, in 2011. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Generally voted against higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011–2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted against lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted against increasing the rate of VAT Show votes
0 votes for, 3 votes against, 5 absences, between 2010–2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Voted for increasing the tax rate applied to income over £150,000 Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
Last updated: 6 November 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Stuart Bell voted on Miscellaneous Topics #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted against restricting the scope of legal aid Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011–2012. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Almost always voted against the policies included in the 2010 Conservative - Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement Show votes
1 vote for, 26 votes against, 11 absences, between 2011–2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted against capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2010. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted against the privatisation of Royal Mail Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2010–2011. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted against limits on success fees paid to lawyers in no-win no fee cases Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted against greater regulation of gambling Show votes
1 vote for, 3 votes against, 3 absences, between 2004–2011. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted for Labour's anti-terrorism laws Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, 6 absences, between 2004–2005. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
Last updated: 26 April 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Stuart Bell voted on Home Affairs #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Almost always voted for a stricter asylum system Show votes
10 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2002–2005. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for allowing ministers to intervene in inquests Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2008–2009. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for introducing ID cards Show votes
8 votes for, 0 votes against, 4 absences, between 2005–2006. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted against the introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners Show votes
0 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010–2011. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Has never voted on requiring the mass retention of information about communications Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2009.
Last updated: 17 January 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Stuart Bell voted on Health #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 1997. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted against reforming the NHS so GPs buy services on behalf of their patients Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, in 2011. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for introducing foundation hospitals Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2003. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for restricting the provision of services to private patients by the NHS Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2011. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted against fewer obstacles for access to abortion Show votes
0 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2007–2008. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2006–2011. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
Last updated: 29 November 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted against local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, in 2012. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Generally voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes
3 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 1999–2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for more powers for local councils Show votes
6 votes for, 2 votes against, 6 absences, between 2010–2012. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Has never voted on transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 11 absences, in 2011.
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Has never voted in a major vote about a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2010.
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Has never voted on reducing central government funding of local government Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2011.
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Generally voted against a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes
1 vote for, 2 votes against, between 2007–2012. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted against a transparent Parliament Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, in 2007. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted against an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 4 absences, between 2010–2011. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Has never voted in a major vote about fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2010.
Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
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Has never voted in a major vote about a lower voting age Show votes
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2005.
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Voted against transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2011–2012.
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Generally voted against fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, 2 absences, in 2011.
Last updated: 3 December 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Stuart Bell voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted for more EU integration Show votes
6 votes for, 0 votes against, 11 absences, between 2007–2012.
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Has never voted on replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2007.
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Consistently voted for the Iraq war Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2003. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes
3 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2003–2011. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Has never voted in a major vote about strengthening the Military Covenant Show votes
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2011.
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Consistently voted against investigations into the Iraq war Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, in 2003. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Generally voted against a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, in 2011. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
Last updated: 18 May 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Stuart Bell voted on Education #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted against greater autonomy for schools Show votes
2 votes for, 6 votes against, 7 absences, between 2006–2011. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted against academy schools Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, 2 absences, between 2010–2011. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Voted a mixture of for and against university tuition fees Show votes
2 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2004–2010. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Voted against raising England’s undergraduate tuition fee cap to £9,000 per year Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2010. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
Last updated: 21 February 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Stuart Bell voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted for increasing the state pension age for women more slowly Show votes
3 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2011. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Consistently voted against making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support Show votes
0 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, in 2012. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Generally voted against reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011–2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted for paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes
6 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted against increasing the state pension age Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, in 2011. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted against a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes
0 votes for, 7 votes against, 4 absences, between 2011–2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
Last updated: 18 May 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
As a result of COVID-19, some MPs were less able to vote in Parliament in certain periods, and this will be reflected by absences in their voting record.
- 11th May to 2nd June 2020
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All MPs could vote remotely through an online voting tool. Votes cast remotely are shown as normal on the TheyWorkForYou voting record.
- 2nd to 9th June 2020
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The option of online voting was removed, and a number of MPs may have been unable to vote because they were not physically able to attend.
- 10th June 2020 onwards
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The requirements on proxy voting were relaxed, allowing MPs to designate another MP to cast a vote on their behalf.
If an MP votes by proxy, it is effectively exactly the same as if they cast the vote in person and it shows up on their TheyWorkForYou voting record.
MPs are not required to designate a proxy, and may instead pair with an opposing MP to miss a vote. Parliament does not record when two MPs have come to a pairing arrangement, so on TheyWorkForYou, they will both appear to have been absent for the vote.
See more detail on votes during the COVID-19 period here.
