John Whittingdale’s voting in Parliament

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

This is a selection of John Whittingdale’s votes.

• Almost always voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes 0 votes for, 11 votes against, 4 absences, between 2011–2016
• Almost always voted for fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes 6 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2010–2016
• Consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes 7 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2007–2016
• Almost always voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes 14 votes for, 0 votes against, 4 absences, between 2012–2018
• Generally voted for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes 9 votes for, 2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2008–2016
• Almost always voted for reducing central government funding of local government Show votes 7 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010–2019

Last updated: 4 Sep 2019. Please share these votes responsibly.

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

John Whittingdale has occasionally rebelled against their party in the current parliament. Find out more.

Recent appearances

• European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension Letter 21 Oct 2019

  Does my right hon Friend agree that what the recipients of the letter and other EU member states, and indeed this country, want to know is whether the agreement that they have reached with the Prime Minister commands the majority support of this House, and how does he propose to explain to them that now, on a second day of the House of Commons meeting, we are still unable to discover that?

• Iran 25 Sep 2019

  I strongly welcome my right hon. Friend’s continued championing of the cause of media freedom, on which Iran’s record is one of the worst in the world. In particular, will he continue to press Iran to cease the persecution of families of members of the BBC Persian service, who have faced arbitrary arrest, asset freezes, passport confiscation and surveillance?

• Legal Advice: Prorogation 25 Sep 2019

  Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that there is a judgment that is superior to that of any court’s? That is the judgment of the British people. It has once been given on the question of whether this country should remain a member of the European Union, but it has twice been prevented from being expressed in a vote of this House. Is it not now time that we allow them to give their...

More of John Whittingdale’s recent appearances

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Profile

Conservative MP for Maldon

Entered the House of Commons on 9 April 1992 — General election

Also represented Maldon and East Chelmsford; Colchester South and Maldon

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

Social Media

• @jwhittingdale
• https://facebook.com/johnwhittingdale4maldon

Expenses

• Expenses from 2004 to 2009
• Expenses from 2010 onwards

Topics of interest

John Whittingdale campaigned to leave the European Union Source: BBC

• Trade and Industry
• Culture Media and Sport
• Environment Food and Rural Affairs
• Health
• Treasury
• BBC
• LNM Holdings
• Unlicensed Broadcasting
• Icelandic Trawlermen (Compensation)
• Correspondence

Currently held offices

• Member, Committee on Exiting the European Union (since 11 Sep 2017)

Other offices held in the past

• Member, Committee on Exiting the European Union (31 Oct 2016 to 3 May 2017)
• The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (8 May 2015 to 14 Jul 2016)
• Chair, Privacy and Injunctions (Joint Committee) (8 Sep 2011 to 12 Mar 2012)
• Member, Privacy and Injunctions (Joint Committee) (14 Jul 2011 to 8 Sep 2011)
• Vice-Chair, Conservative 1922 Committee (1 Jul 2008 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Member, Liaison Committee (Commons) (11 Jul 2005 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Chair, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (11 Jul 2005 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1 Jul 2004 to 5 May 2005)
• Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1 Nov 2003 to 1 Jul 2004)
• Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (23 Jul 2002 to 15 Nov 2003)
• Shadow Secretary of State (Trade and Industry) (18 Sep 2001 to 23 Jul 2002)
• Member, Trade & Industry Committee (16 Jul 2001 to 29 Oct 2001)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Treasury) (1 Jun 1998 to 1 Jun 1999)
• Opposition Whip (Commons) (1 Jun 1997 to 1 Jun 1998)
• Member, Health and Social Care Committee (5 Jul 1993 to 21 Mar 1997)
• Member, Consolidation etc. Bills (Joint Committee) (27 Apr 1992 to 21 Mar 1997)

Previous MPs in this constituency

• John Wakeham
• Alastair Harrison
• Tom Driberg
• Edward Ruggles-Brise
• Valentine Crittall
• Edward Ruggles-Brise
• James Flannery
• Thomas Bethell
• Charles Strutt
• Joseph Dodd
• Charles Gray
• Albert Kitching
• George Courtauld
• George Sandford
• Edward Bentall
• George Sandford
• Ralph Earle
• Thomas Western
• George Sandford
• Thomas Western
• John Moore
• George Sandford
• Taverner Miller
• Charles Du Cane
• Thomas Barrett-Lennard
• David Waddington
• John Round
• Quintin Dick
• John Round
• Quintin Dick
• Thomas Barrett-Lennard
• Quintin Dick
• Hugh Dick
• George Allanson-Winn
• Joseph Western
• Benjamin Gaskell
• Joseph Western
• Benjamin Gaskell
• Joseph Western
• Benjamin Gaskell
• Joseph Western
• Charles Western
• Benjamin Gaskell
• Joseph Western

Public bill committees (Sittings attended)

• Live Music Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Holocaust (Stolen Art) Restitution Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Gambling Bill Committee (6 out of 6)
• Communications Bill Committee (25 out of 25)

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 35 debates in the last year — below average amongst MPs. See all John Whittingdale’s speeches
• Has received answers to 1 written question in the last year — below 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 87.95% of votes in this Parliament with this affiliation — above average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
• This MP’s speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 18–19 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
• 87 people are tracking this MP — email me updates on John Whittingdale’s activity
• Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 615 times in debates — well above average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)