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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George Osborne’s voting in Parliament

George Osborne was previously a Conservative MP, and on the vast majority of issues would have followed instructions from their party and voted the same way as Conservative 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.

George Osborne sometimes differs from their party colleagues, such as:

• Almost always voted for fewer obstacles for access to abortion Show votes 5 votes for, 2 absences, between 2007 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 31%).

How George Osborne voted on Miscellaneous Topics #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Tended to vote for (alignment score: 67%) greater regulation of gambling Show votes 2 votes for, 1 vote against, 7 absences, between 2004 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 55%).
• Generally voted against Labour's anti-terrorism laws Show votes 2 votes for, 7 votes against, 1 absence, between 2001 and 2010. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
• Consistently voted for the privatisation of Royal Mail Show votes 2 votes for, between 2009 and 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted for the policies included in the 2010 Conservative - Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement Show votes 28 votes for, 30 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted against requiring pub companies to offer pub landlords rent-only leases Show votes 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 55%).
• Generally voted for allowing national security sensitive evidence to be put before courts in secret sessions Show votes 4 votes for, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.

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

How George Osborne voted on Environmental Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted against measures to prevent climate change Show votes 1 vote for, 5 votes against, 11 absences, between 2004 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 30%).
• Generally voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes 4 votes for, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Almost always voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes 7 votes for, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes 3 votes for, 3 absences, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Voted for improving environmental water quality Show votes 1 vote for, in 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.

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

How George Osborne 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 2004 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%).
• Generally voted for greater autonomy for schools Show votes 5 votes for, 9 absences, between 2002 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Voted for raising England’s undergraduate tuition fee cap to £9,000 per year Show votes 1 vote for, in 2010. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted for academy schools Show votes 1 vote for, 6 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.

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

How George Osborne voted on Transport #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes 4 votes for, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Almost always voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes 7 votes for, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted against a publicly owned railway system Show votes 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2014 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.

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

How George Osborne voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes 19 votes for, 11 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes 2 votes for, 4 absences, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes 6 votes against, 7 absences, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices Show votes 5 votes against, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.

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

How George Osborne 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 Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes 3 votes for, between 2007 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes 4 votes for, 1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2008 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for the Iraq war Show votes 2 votes for, between 2002 and 2003. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted against more EU integration Show votes 4 votes for, 12 votes against, 21 absences, between 2006 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 37%).
• Consistently voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes 7 votes for, between 2002 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for military action against ISIL (Daesh) Show votes 3 votes for, between 2014 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted against UK membership of the EU Show votes 5 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against a right to remain for EU nationals already in living in the UK Show votes 7 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.

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

How George Osborne voted on Business and the Economy #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Almost always voted for reducing the rate of corporation tax Show votes 20 votes for, 1 vote against, 5 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for measures to reduce tax avoidance Show votes 4 votes for, 1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2013 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) stronger tax incentives for companies to invest in assets Show votes 2 votes for, 2 votes against, 8 absences, between 2010 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 57%).
• Generally voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes 3 votes for, 3 absences, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.

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

How George Osborne voted on Home Affairs #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Almost always voted against introducing ID cards Show votes 10 votes against, 2 absences, between 2004 and 2006. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against allowing ministers to intervene in inquests Show votes 3 votes against, between 2008 and 2009. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for a stricter asylum system Show votes 3 votes for, 1 vote against, 12 absences, between 2002 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for making it easier to remove someone's British citizenship Show votes 1 vote for, 1 absence, in 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.

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

How George Osborne voted on Social Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes 1 vote for, 5 absences, between 2003 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 45%).
• Consistently voted for equal gay rights Show votes 7 votes for, 1 absence, between 2001 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 42%).
• Generally voted against the hunting ban Show votes 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2002 and 2004. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for allowing marriage between two people of same sex Show votes 5 votes for, between 2004 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 66%).
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes 1 vote for, 1 vote against, 6 absences, between 2009 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.

Last updated: 26 March 2025. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How George Osborne voted on Taxation and Employment #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for encouraging occupational pensions Show votes 1 vote for, 2 absences, between 2004 and 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for increasing the rate of VAT Show votes 6 votes for, 3 absences, between 2008 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Almost always voted for raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes 17 votes for, 8 absences, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted against increasing the tax rate applied to income over £150,000 Show votes 2 votes against, between 2012 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes 4 votes for, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Almost always voted for higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes 7 votes for, 1 vote against, 3 absences, between 2010 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Almost always voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes 7 votes for, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for more restrictive regulation of trade union activity Show votes 6 votes for, 4 absences, between 2008 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 57%) higher taxes on banks Show votes 4 votes for, 3 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 66%).
• Generally voted against increasing capital gains tax Show votes 1 vote for, 5 votes against, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.

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

How George Osborne voted on Health #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against introducing foundation hospitals Show votes 4 votes against, 1 absence, in 2003. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
• Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes 1 vote for, 5 absences, between 2003 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 45%).
• Consistently voted for reforming the NHS so GPs buy services on behalf of their patients Show votes 3 votes for, between 2011 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted against restricting the provision of services to private patients by the NHS Show votes 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
• Almost always voted for fewer obstacles for access to abortion Show votes 5 votes for, 2 absences, between 2007 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 31%).

Last updated: 26 March 2025. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How George Osborne 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 Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 48%).
• Generally voted against a lower voting age Show votes 1 vote against, 5 absences, between 2004 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes 1 vote for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2003 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 36%).
• Generally voted against a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes 1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
• Generally voted for an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes 4 votes for, 4 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes 1 vote for, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for. Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
• Generally voted for reducing central government funding of local government Show votes 2 votes for, 3 absences, between 2010 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted for greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties, such as charities, during elections Show votes 4 votes for, 7 absences, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes 1 vote for, 3 absences, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) more powers for local councils Show votes 2 votes for, 2 votes against, 20 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 34%).
• Generally voted for fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes 1 vote for, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted against transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes 2 votes against, 13 absences, between 2011 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
• Generally voted against transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes 2 votes against, 29 absences, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted for a veto for MPs from England, Wales and Northern Ireland over laws specifically impacting their part of the UK Show votes 1 vote for, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.

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