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.

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Stephen Byers’s voting in Parliament

Stephen Byers 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.

Stephen Byers has occasionally rebelled against their party in their last parliament. Find out more.

How Stephen Byers voted on Miscellaneous Topics #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for Labour's anti-terrorism laws Show votes 10 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2001–2005. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted against greater regulation of gambling Show votes 0 votes for, 4 votes against, 2 absences, between 2004–2007. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.

Last updated: 8 January 2014. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Stephen Byers voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for more EU integration Show votes 9 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2007–2009. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2007. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2003. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Has never voted in a major vote about investigations into the Iraq war Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2003.
• Consistently voted for the Iraq war Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2003. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.

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

How Stephen Byers voted on Environmental Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for measures to prevent climate change Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2008. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 20 February 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Stephen Byers voted on Constitutional Reform #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 1999–2007. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Has never voted in a major vote about a transparent Parliament Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2007.
• Has never voted in a major vote about a lower voting age Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2005.
• Voted a mixture of for and against a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes 1 vote for, 1 vote against, in 2007. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.

Last updated: 17 January 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Stephen Byers voted on Social Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2003–2006. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
• Has never voted on allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 1997.
• 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.
• Voted a mixture of for and against laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes 1 vote for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, in 2009. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for equal gay rights Show votes 3 votes for, 1 vote against, 2 absences, between 1998–2007. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.

Last updated: 1 March 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Stephen Byers voted on Health #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for fewer obstacles for access to abortion Show votes 5 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2007–2008. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2003–2006. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• 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.
• Has never voted on allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 1997.

Last updated: 7 March 2023. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Stephen Byers voted on Home Affairs #

For votes held while they were in office:

• 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.
• Generally voted for a stricter asylum system Show votes 8 votes for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2002–2005. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Has never voted on requiring the mass retention of information about communications Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2009.
• Almost always voted for introducing ID cards Show votes 9 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2004–2006.

Last updated: 17 January 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Stephen Byers voted on Education #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Voted a mixture of for and against greater autonomy for schools Show votes 2 votes for, 3 votes against, between 1998–2006. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Consistently voted for university tuition fees Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2004. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.

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

How Stephen Byers voted on Taxation and Employment #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Has never voted on automatic enrolment in occupational pensions Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2010.
• Voted against increasing the rate of VAT Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2008. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Has never voted on higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2010.
• Has never voted in a major vote about encouraging occupational pensions Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2010.

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

More on their full voting record on Public Whip