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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Joan Ryan’s voting in Parliament

Joan Ryan 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, Joan Ryan sometimes differs from Labour MPs, such as:

• Joan Ryan consistently voted for military action against ISIL (Daesh); comparable Labour MPs generally voted against. Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2015.

How Joan Ryan voted on Home Affairs #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Voted for requiring the mass retention of information about communications Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 2009–2016.
• Consistently voted against stronger laws and enforcement of immigration rules Show votes 0 votes for, 7 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015–2016. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against merging police and fire services under Police and Crime Commissioners Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2016. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Has never voted on mass surveillance of people’s communications and activities Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, in 2016.
• Almost always voted for a stricter asylum system Show votes 11 votes for, 1 vote against, 3 absences, between 2002–2016. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for introducing ID cards Show votes 11 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2004–2006. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for allowing ministers to intervene in inquests Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2008–2009. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.

Last updated: 25 March 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Joan Ryan voted on Business and the Economy #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Has never voted on new high speed rail infrastructure Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2016–2019.
• Generally voted against measures to reduce tax avoidance Show votes 1 vote for, 3 votes against, 2 absences, between 2016–2018. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
• Generally voted against reducing the rate of corporation tax Show votes 0 votes for, 6 votes against, 3 absences, between 2015–2016. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.

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

How Joan Ryan voted on Constitutional Reform #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against reducing central government funding of local government Show votes 0 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016–2019. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Voted against local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2019. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against a veto for MPs from England, Wales and Northern Ireland over laws specifically impacting their part of the UK Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2015. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Generally voted for more powers for the devolved administration in Northern Ireland Show votes 4 votes for, 1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2017–2018. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for more powers for local councils Show votes 5 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2015–2016. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes 10 votes for, 2 votes against, 16 absences, between 2015–2018. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted against a transparent Parliament Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, in 2007. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes 6 votes for, 1 vote against, 7 absences, between 2017–2018. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Voted against fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2016. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for. Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
• Voted against an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2016. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for a lower voting age Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2015–2016. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Has never voted in a major vote about a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2007.
• Consistently voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 1999–2007. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Has never voted in a major vote about a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 2015–2016.

Last updated: 16 January 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Joan Ryan 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.
• Generally voted against raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes 0 votes for, 6 votes against, 5 absences, between 2015–2018.
• Consistently voted against increasing the rate of VAT Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2008. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Almost always voted for higher taxes on banks Show votes 5 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 2015–2017. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted against reducing capital gains tax Show votes 0 votes for, 4 votes against, 2 absences, in 2016. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted against more restrictive regulation of trade union activity Show votes 0 votes for, 10 votes against, between 2015–2017. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Has never voted in a major vote about encouraging occupational pensions Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2010.
• Generally voted against higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes 1 vote for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010–2017. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.

Last updated: 12 March 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Joan Ryan voted on Housing #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against phasing out secure tenancies for life Show votes 0 votes for, 4 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015–2016. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Consistently voted against charging a market rent to high earners renting a council home Show votes 0 votes for, 4 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015–2016. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.

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

How Joan Ryan voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes 5 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015–2016. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Almost always voted against a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes 0 votes for, 10 votes against, 2 absences, between 2015–2016. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.

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

How Joan Ryan voted on Health #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for fewer obstacles for access to abortion Show votes 9 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2007–2019. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 1997–2015. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
• Voted against reforming the NHS so GPs buy services on behalf of their patients Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2019. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
• Consistently voted for introducing foundation hospitals Show votes 5 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2003. 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.

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

How Joan Ryan voted on Environmental Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for measures to prevent climate change Show votes 6 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 agreement for, 3 absences, between 2008–2016. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Voted for financial incentives for low carbon emission electricity generation methods Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2018. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Has never voted on new high speed rail infrastructure Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2016–2019.
• Generally voted for the preservation of environmental protections after withdrawal from the EU Show votes 5 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2017–2019. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.

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

How Joan Ryan voted on Education #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for university tuition fees Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2004. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Has never voted in a major vote about academy schools Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2016.
• Voted a mixture of for and against greater autonomy for schools Show votes 1 vote for, 3 votes against, between 1998–2006. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.

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

How Joan Ryan voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for the Iraq war Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2003. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for military action against ISIL (Daesh) Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Consistently voted against investigations into the Iraq war Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2003. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for a right to remain for EU nationals already in living in the UK Show votes 8 votes for, 5 votes against, 3 absences, between 2017–2019. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2015. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for UK membership of the EU Show votes 6 votes for, 4 votes against, 2 absences, between 2016–2019. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for more EU integration Show votes 28 votes for, 7 votes against, 17 absences, between 2007–2019. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for a second referendum on the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2017–2019. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2007–2016. 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, between 2003–2015. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.

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

How Joan Ryan voted on Social Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes 5 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2009–2019. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• 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.
• Almost always voted for equal gay rights Show votes 7 votes for, 0 votes against, between 1998–2019. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for allowing marriage between two people of same sex Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2019. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 1997–2015. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
• 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.

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

How Joan Ryan voted on Transport #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for adding a third runway at Heathrow Airport Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2018. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
• Has never voted in a major vote about a publicly owned railway system Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2016.

Last updated: 25 June 2018. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Joan Ryan voted on Miscellaneous Topics #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against greater regulation of gambling Show votes 0 votes for, 6 votes against, between 2004–2007. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• 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.
• Has never voted on requiring pub companies to offer pub landlords rent-only leases Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2016.

Last updated: 2 February 2016. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

More on their full voting record on Public Whip