Voting summaries

For period: All time

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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Tom Brake’s voting in Parliament

Tom Brake was previously a Liberal Democrat MP, and on the vast majority of issues would have followed instructions from their party and voted the same way as Liberal Democrat MPs.

Where MPs differ is either because they have made a decision not to follow the party whip (rebelling), or where they have differed from the majority of their colleagues in a free vote.

Tom Brake sometimes differs from their party colleagues, such as:

• Generally voted for allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes 1 vote for, 1 absence, between 1997 and 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 37%).

How Tom Brake voted on Miscellaneous Topics #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 43%) greater regulation of gambling Show votes 3 votes for, 4 votes against, 3 absences, between 2004 and 2014. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 49%).
• Consistently voted against Labour's anti-terrorism laws Show votes 10 votes against, between 2001 and 2010. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted for the privatisation of Royal Mail Show votes 2 votes for, between 2009 and 2011. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes 5 votes for, in 2010. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Almost always voted for the policies included in the 2010 Conservative - Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement Show votes 51 votes for, 3 votes against, 4 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) requiring pub companies to offer pub landlords rent-only leases Show votes 1 vote for, 1 vote against, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 68%).
• Generally voted for restricting the scope of legal aid Show votes 6 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for allowing national security sensitive evidence to be put before courts in secret sessions Show votes 6 votes for, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted against restrictions on fees charged to tenants by letting agents Show votes 1 vote against, between 2013 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted for limits on success fees paid to lawyers in no-win no fee cases Show votes 5 votes for, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2013. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for a statutory register of lobbyists Show votes 3 votes for, in 2013. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.

Last updated: 26 April 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 59%) a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes 16 votes for, 11 votes against, 3 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 56%).
• Generally voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes 4 votes for, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 46%) paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes 6 votes for, 7 votes against, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 43%).
• Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices Show votes 5 votes against, in 2013. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support Show votes 3 votes for, 1 absence, in 2012. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted against increasing the state pension age for women more slowly Show votes 3 votes against, between 2011 and 2017. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for increasing the state pension age Show votes 2 votes for, in 2011. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 18 May 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Education #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) university tuition fees Show votes 2 votes for, 2 votes against, between 1997 and 2017. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted against.
• Generally voted for greater autonomy for schools Show votes 10 votes for, 3 votes against, 2 absences, between 1998 and 2014. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Voted for raising England’s undergraduate tuition fee cap to £9,000 per year Show votes 1 vote for, in 2010. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 56%).
• Generally voted for academy schools Show votes 5 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.

Last updated: 21 February 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Health #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against introducing foundation hospitals Show votes 5 votes against, in 2003. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for smoking bans Show votes 6 votes for, between 1999 and 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for reforming the NHS so GPs buy services on behalf of their patients Show votes 3 votes for, between 2011 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted against restricting the provision of services to private patients by the NHS Show votes 3 votes against, between 2011 and 2012. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted against.
• Generally voted for allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes 1 vote for, 1 absence, between 1997 and 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 37%).
• Voted for reducing the maximum amount an individual may be required to contribute to their social care costs Show votes 1 vote for, in 2013. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.
• Almost always voted for fewer obstacles for access to abortion Show votes 8 votes for, 2 absences, between 2007 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.

Last updated: 20 June 2025. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for investigations into the Iraq war Show votes 2 votes for, between 2003 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted against replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes 1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2007 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes 2 votes for, 2 votes against, 3 absences, between 2008 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 45%).
• Consistently voted against the Iraq war Show votes 2 votes against, between 2002 and 2003. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.
• Almost always voted for more EU integration Show votes 45 votes for, 7 votes against, 16 absences, between 2006 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes 5 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2002 and 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 59%).
• Consistently voted against strengthening the Military Covenant Show votes 1 vote against, between 2010 and 2012. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for military action against ISIL (Daesh) Show votes 3 votes for, between 2014 and 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for UK membership of the EU Show votes 11 votes for, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Almost always voted for a right to remain for EU nationals already in living in the UK Show votes 14 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for a second referendum on the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU Show votes 4 votes for, between 2017 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 18 May 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Constitutional Reform #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes 3 votes for, between 2003 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for a lower voting age Show votes 6 votes for, between 2004 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes 3 votes for, 2 absences, between 1999 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Tended to vote for (alignment score: 67%) a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes 2 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 54%).
• Generally voted for an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes 6 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Tended to vote against (alignment score: 33%) fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes 1 vote for, 2 votes against, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 38%). Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
• Tended to vote for (alignment score: 67%) reducing central government funding of local government Show votes 2 votes for, 1 vote against, 4 absences, between 2010 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 49%).
• Consistently voted for greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties, such as charities, during elections Show votes 11 votes for, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes 3 votes for, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 52%) more powers for local councils Show votes 11 votes for, 10 votes against, 3 absences, between 2010 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 51%).
• Generally voted for fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes 2 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2014. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 58%) transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes 7 votes for, 5 votes against, 11 absences, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 58%).
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 58%) transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes 11 votes for, 8 votes against, 21 absences, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%).
• Consistently voted against a veto for MPs from England, Wales and Northern Ireland over laws specifically impacting their part of the UK Show votes 1 vote against, in 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted against.
• Generally voted for more powers for the devolved administration in Northern Ireland Show votes 3 votes for, 4 absences, between 2017 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.

Last updated: 3 December 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Taxation and Employment #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for encouraging occupational pensions Show votes 2 votes for, 1 absence, between 2004 and 2011. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for increasing the rate of VAT Show votes 9 votes for, between 2008 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Tended to vote for (alignment score: 64%) raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes 18 votes for, 10 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 62%).
• Consistently voted against increasing the tax rate applied to income over £150,000 Show votes 2 votes against, between 2012 and 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes 6 votes for, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes 6 votes for, 1 vote against, 4 absences, between 2010 and 2017. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes 9 votes for, between 2012 and 2017. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted against an annual tax on the value of expensive homes (popularly known as a mansion tax) Show votes 2 votes against, in 2013. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for allowing employees to exchange some employment rights for shares in the company they work for Show votes 5 votes for, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted against more restrictive regulation of trade union activity Show votes 9 votes against, 1 absence, between 2008 and 2017. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted against.
• Almost always voted for higher taxes on banks Show votes 11 votes for, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for increasing capital gains tax Show votes 5 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 3 March 2025. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Home Affairs #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against introducing ID cards Show votes 12 votes against, between 2004 and 2006. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted against allowing ministers to intervene in inquests Show votes 3 votes against, between 2008 and 2009. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.
• Almost always voted against a stricter asylum system Show votes 1 vote for, 13 votes against, 2 absences, between 2002 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted for the introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners Show votes 3 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2012. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.
• Tended to vote against (alignment score: 33%) requiring the mass retention of information about communications Show votes 1 vote for, 2 votes against, 3 absences, between 2009 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 48%).
• Almost always voted against stronger laws and enforcement of immigration rules Show votes 6 votes against, 2 absences, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against mass surveillance of people’s communications and activities Show votes 3 votes against, in 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted against merging police and fire services under Police and Crime Commissioners Show votes 1 vote against, in 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted against.
• Consistently voted for making it easier to remove someone's British citizenship Show votes 2 votes for, in 2014. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.

Last updated: 22 May 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Business and the Economy #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Tended to vote for (alignment score: 64%) reducing the rate of corporation tax Show votes 16 votes for, 9 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 63%).
• Generally voted for measures to reduce tax avoidance Show votes 5 votes for, 2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2013 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 58%).
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 58%) stronger tax incentives for companies to invest in assets Show votes 7 votes for, 5 votes against, between 2010 and 2014. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 57%).
• Almost always voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes 6 votes for, 2 absences, between 2013 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.

Last updated: 8 December 2021. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Transport #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes 6 votes for, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes 9 votes for, between 2012 and 2017. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for a publicly owned railway system Show votes 1 vote for, 1 absence, between 2014 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted against adding a third runway at Heathrow Airport Show votes 1 vote against, between 2008 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted against.

Last updated: 29 July 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Housing #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against charging a market rent to high earners renting a council home Show votes 4 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against phasing out secure tenancies for life Show votes 4 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted against.

Last updated: 3 May 2016. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Environmental Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for measures to prevent climate change Show votes 9 votes for, 4 votes against, 1 agreement, 4 absences, between 2000 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes 6 votes for, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes 9 votes for, between 2012 and 2017. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for financial incentives for low carbon emission electricity generation methods Show votes 3 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted against greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes 2 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted against.
• Almost always voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes 6 votes for, 2 absences, between 2013 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for the preservation of environmental protections after withdrawal from the EU Show votes 5 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2016 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Voted for improving environmental water quality Show votes 1 vote for, in 2012. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 2 April 2025. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Tom Brake voted on Social Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for smoking bans Show votes 6 votes for, between 1999 and 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Almost always voted for equal gay rights Show votes 8 votes for, 3 absences, between 1998 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for the hunting ban Show votes 3 votes for, between 2002 and 2004. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 63%).
• Consistently voted for allowing marriage between two people of same sex Show votes 5 votes for, 1 absence, between 2004 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes 6 votes for, 2 votes against, 3 absences, between 2009 and 2019. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes 1 vote for, 1 absence, between 1997 and 2015. Comparable Liberal Democrat MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 37%).

Last updated: 20 June 2025. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.