John Spellar’s voting in Parliament

John Spellar is a Labour MP, and on the vast majority of issues votes the same way as other Labour MPs.

This is a selection of John Spellar’s votes.

• Consistently voted against greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties, such as charities, during elections Show votes 0 votes for, 11 votes against, 1 absence, between 2013–2016
• Generally voted for paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes 10 votes for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2011–2016
• Consistently voted against an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes 0 votes for, 11 votes against, between 2011–2016
• Consistently voted against raising England’s undergraduate tuition fee cap to £9,000 per year Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2010
• Voted a mixture of for and against a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes 1 vote for, 4 votes against, 8 absences, between 2008–2016
• Generally voted against a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes 2 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010–2016

We have lots more plain English analysis of John Spellar’s voting record on issues like health, welfare, taxation and more. Visit John Spellar’s full vote analysis page for more.

John Spellar has never rebelled against their party in the current parliament. Find out more.

Last updated: 12 Sep 2017

Recent appearances

• Written Answers — Home Office: UK Visas and Immigration: Telephone Services 18 Oct 2017

  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons hon. Members' telephone access to UK Visas and Immigration has been reduced.

• Unauthorised Encampments — [Philip Davies in the Chair] 12 Oct 2017

  The hon. Lady mentioned Travellers on green sites, a cause of considerable distress to residents, but such groups quite often also set up on industrial estates. They disrupt the businesses and very often there is, coincidentally, a significant peak in crime, so those industrial estates get hit both ways.

• Unauthorised Encampments — [Philip Davies in the Chair] 12 Oct 2017

  As a Member of Parliament representing part of Sandwell, I draw attention to the fact that the number of illegal encampments has about halved as a result of the new site. Equally significantly, those that are set up are moved on quickly by the police. Might it not be an idea simply to change the law to cover a police authority area? That would simplify this for the police and they could...

More of John Spellar’s recent appearances

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Profile

Labour MP for Warley

Entered the House of Commons on 28 October 1982 — unknown

Also represented Warley West; Birmingham, Northfield

• Personal website
• Wikipedia page
• BBC News profile
• Early Day Motions signed by this MP

Social Media

• @spellar
• https://facebook.com/johnspellar

Expenses

• Expenses from 2004 to 2009
• Expenses from 2010 onwards

Topics of interest

We don't know whether John Spellar campaigned to leave, or stay in the European Union Source: BBC

• Home Department
• Transport
• Health
• Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
• Environment Food and Rural Affairs
• Correspondence
• Departmental Expenditure
• Members: Correspondence
• Drinking Water
• Afghanistan

Currently held offices

• Member, Defence Committee (since 11 Sep 2017)

Other offices held in the past

• Member, Committees on Arms Export Controls (formerly Quadripartite Committee) (10 Feb 2016 to 3 May 2017)
• Member, Defence Sub-Committee (8 Sep 2015 to 3 May 2017)
• Member, Defence Committee (6 Jul 2015 to 3 May 2017)
• Member, Administration Committee (22 Nov 2010 to 1 Jul 2013)
• Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) (8 Oct 2010 to 18 Sep 2015)
• Member, Committee of Selection (21 Jun 2010 to 13 Oct 2010)
• Member, Finance and Services Committee (9 Feb 2009 to 6 May 2010)
• Comptroller (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons) (5 Oct 2008 to 6 May 2010)
• Member, Conventions (Joint Committee) (17 May 2006 to 31 Oct 2006)
• The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (13 Jun 2003 to 10 May 2005)
• Minister of State (Department for Transport) (29 May 2002 to 13 Jun 2003)
• Minister of State (Department of Transport, Local Government and Regions) (Transport) (8 Jun 2001 to 29 May 2002)
• The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (29 Jul 1999 to 8 Jun 2001)
• Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (6 May 1997 to 28 Jul 1999)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Defence) (1 Jun 1995 to 1 Jun 1997)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Northern Ireland) (1 Jun 1994 to 1 Jun 1995)
• Opposition Whip (Commons) (1 Jun 1992 to 1 Jun 1994)
• Member, Energy Committee (21 Jan 1983 to 9 Jun 1983)

Public bill committees (Sittings attended)

• Superannuation bill Committee (4 out of 4)
• Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill Committee (4 out of 4)
• Railways and Transport Safety Bill Committee (17 out of 18)
• Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Bill Committee (2 out of 2)

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 38 debates in the last year — above average amongst MPs. See all John Spellar’s speeches
• Has received answers to 51 written questions in the last year — above average amongst MPs.
• Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a high number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2015, according to constituents.
• Has voted in 86.96% of votes in this Parliament with this affiliation — below average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
• People have made 11 annotations on this MP’s speeches — above average amongst MPs.
• This MP’s speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 18–19 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
• 79 people are tracking this MP — email me updates on John Spellar’s activity
• Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 670 times in debates — well above average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)