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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Dawn Butler’s voting in Parliament

Dawn Butler is a Labour MP, and on the vast majority of issues follow instructions from their party and vote the same way as other Labour 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.

Dawn Butler sometimes differs from their party colleagues, such as:

• Tended to vote for (alignment score: 67%) a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes 2 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2007 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 40%).
• Generally voted for more anti-terrorism laws Show votes 1 vote for, 2 absences, between 2018 and 2020. Comparable Labour MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 32%).
• Tended to vote against (alignment score: 33%) replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes 1 vote for, 2 votes against, between 2007 and 2016. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.

In the last year, Dawn Butler has an alignment score of 97% with other MPs of their party (over 239 votes). Find out more.

How Dawn Butler voted on Social Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for smoking bans Show votes 1 vote for, in 2006. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for equal gay rights Show votes 4 votes for, between 2007 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Voted for allowing marriage between two people of same sex Show votes 1 vote for, in 2019. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted for laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes 5 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2009 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes 2 votes against, between 2015 and 2025. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 53%).
• Voted against supporting marriage and civil partnerships Show votes 1 vote against, in 2020. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Consistently voted for shifting the balance of employment rights towards employees Show votes 2 votes for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 20 June 2025. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Dawn Butler voted on Transport #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for a publicly owned railway system Show votes 2 votes for, between 2016 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted against adding a third runway at Heathrow Airport Show votes 1 vote against, between 2008 and 2018. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 56%).

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

How Dawn Butler voted on Taxation and Employment #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against increasing the rate of VAT Show votes 1 vote against, between 2008 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Tended to vote against (alignment score: 36%) raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes 4 votes for, 7 votes against, 4 absences, between 2015 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 39%).
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes 2 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 51%).
• Almost always voted against more restrictive regulation of trade union activity Show votes 14 votes against, 4 absences, between 2008 and 2023. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Generally voted for higher taxes on banks Show votes 7 votes for, 4 absences, between 2015 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted against reducing capital gains tax Show votes 6 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted for raising the threshold at which people start to pay the higher rate of income tax Show votes 4 votes for, in 2021. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted against higher taxes specifically to fund health and social care Show votes 4 votes against, between 2021 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for increasing windfall tax on oil and gas companies Show votes 4 votes for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for increasing stamp duty Show votes 2 votes for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Voted for increasing in employers' national insurance contributions Show votes 1 vote for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for increasing capital gains tax Show votes 8 votes for, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.

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

How Dawn Butler voted on Environmental Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for new nuclear power Show votes 1 vote for, 2 absences, between 2006 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Almost always voted for measures to prevent climate change Show votes 16 votes for, 1 agreement, 7 absences, between 2007 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Voted for financial incentives for low carbon emission electricity generation methods Show votes 1 vote for, in 2018. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes 1 vote for, between 2015 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes 2 votes for, 2 absences, between 2016 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for the preservation of environmental protections after withdrawal from the EU Show votes 6 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2016 and 2023. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted for improving biodiversity Show votes 7 votes for, in 2021. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for improving air quality Show votes 5 votes for, in 2021. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted against hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes 1 vote against, between 2015 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for improving environmental water quality Show votes 4 votes for, 1 absence, between 2021 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for increasing windfall tax on oil and gas companies Show votes 4 votes for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 6 November 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Dawn Butler voted on Constitutional Reform #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Tended to vote for (alignment score: 67%) a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes 2 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2007 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 40%).
• Generally voted for a lower voting age Show votes 2 votes for, 5 absences, between 2005 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted against more powers for government ministers Show votes 8 votes for, 35 votes against, 16 absences, between 2006 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Consistently voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes 2 votes for, between 2007 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted against an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes 1 vote for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2020. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Generally voted against fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2020. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 41%). Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
• Consistently voted against reducing central government funding of local government Show votes 4 votes against, between 2016 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Voted against local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes 1 vote against, in 2019. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for more powers for local councils Show votes 5 votes for, 2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2015 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Almost always voted for transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes 10 votes for, 1 vote against, 5 absences, between 2016 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes 12 votes for, 5 votes against, 16 absences, between 2015 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted against a veto for MPs from England, Wales and Northern Ireland over laws specifically impacting their part of the UK Show votes 1 vote against, in 2015. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for more powers for the devolved administration in Northern Ireland Show votes 5 votes for, 1 vote against, 4 absences, between 2017 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted against photographic voter identification at polling stations Show votes 2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2017 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for approving reports and recommendations made by the Standards Committee Show votes 2 votes for, 2 agreements, 1 absence, between 2021 and 2023. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.

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

How Dawn Butler voted on Health #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for smoking bans Show votes 1 vote for, in 2006. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes 2 votes against, between 2015 and 2025. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 53%).
• Tended to vote for (alignment score: 62%) public health measures and social restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 Show votes 8 votes for, 5 votes against, 9 absences, between 2020 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for. Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
• Consistently voted against higher taxes specifically to fund health and social care Show votes 4 votes against, between 2021 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted against restricting the sale and advertising of tobacco and other nicotine products Show votes 1 vote for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Generally voted for reducing the maximum amount an individual may be required to contribute to their social care costs Show votes 1 vote for, 2 absences, between 2020 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Almost always voted for fewer obstacles for access to abortion Show votes 13 votes for, 3 absences, between 2007 and 2023. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.

Last updated: 20 June 2025. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Dawn Butler voted on Home Affairs #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for introducing ID cards Show votes 8 votes for, 1 absence, between 2005 and 2006. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for allowing ministers to intervene in inquests Show votes 3 votes for, between 2008 and 2009. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted against a stricter asylum system Show votes 1 vote for, 7 votes against, 18 absences, between 2005 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Generally voted for requiring the mass retention of information about communications Show votes 2 votes for, 1 absence, between 2009 and 2016. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted against stronger laws and enforcement of immigration rules Show votes 1 vote for, 16 votes against, 9 absences, between 2015 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Generally voted for mass surveillance of people’s communications and activities Show votes 1 vote for, 3 absences, between 2016 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted against merging police and fire services under Police and Crime Commissioners Show votes 1 vote against, in 2016. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted against authorising criminal conduct by undercover officers and covert sources Show votes 4 votes against, between 2020 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Almost always voted for protecting and supporting victims of crime Show votes 15 votes for, 3 absences, between 2020 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Tended to vote against (alignment score: 33%) restricting the right to protest Show votes 2 votes for, 4 votes against, 10 absences, between 2019 and 2023. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Consistently voted against making it easier to remove those trespassing on land with an intent to reside there Show votes 4 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted against making it easier to remove someone's British citizenship Show votes 3 votes against, 2 absences, between 2021 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.

Last updated: 22 May 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Dawn Butler voted on Education #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Tended to vote for (alignment score: 67%) greater autonomy for schools Show votes 2 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2006 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 56%).
• Consistently voted against academy schools Show votes 1 vote against, in 2016. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.

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

How Dawn Butler voted on Housing #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against charging a market rent to high earners renting a council home Show votes 5 votes against, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted against phasing out secure tenancies for life Show votes 5 votes against, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for stronger fire safety measures Show votes 3 votes for, 1 absence, between 2020 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for more proscriptive planning laws Show votes 4 votes for, between 2020 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted for landlords paying for the costs of building safety works Show votes 4 votes for, 5 absences, between 2021 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for increasing stamp duty Show votes 2 votes for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Voted for more rights for tenants (draft) Show votes 1 vote for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 6 November 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Dawn Butler voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted against a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes 10 votes against, 5 absences, between 2015 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
• Generally voted for paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes 4 votes for, 3 absences, between 2015 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted against increasing the state pension age Show votes 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2021 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.

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

How Dawn Butler voted on Miscellaneous Topics #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against greater regulation of gambling Show votes 2 votes against, between 2005 and 2008. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for Labour's anti-terrorism laws Show votes 1 vote for, between 2005 and 2010. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Voted against capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes 1 vote against, in 2020. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for openness and transparency. Show votes 26 votes for, 3 votes against, 15 absences, between 2007 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Generally voted for more anti-terrorism laws Show votes 1 vote for, 2 absences, between 2018 and 2020. Comparable Labour MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 32%).
• Generally voted against the free movement of goods, and mutual recognition of qualifications, within the United Kingdom Show votes 3 votes for, 10 votes against, 1 absence, between 2020 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Consistently voted for putting military personnel on trial in civilian courts in serious cases Show votes 2 votes for, in 2021. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for suspending MPs or reducing their salaries in specific cases Show votes 4 votes for, 1 absence, between 2018 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 14 June 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Dawn Butler voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Tended to vote against (alignment score: 33%) replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes 1 vote for, 2 votes against, between 2007 and 2016. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes 1 vote for, 2 absences, between 2008 and 2016. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Almost always voted for more EU integration Show votes 37 votes for, 5 votes against, 17 absences, between 2006 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted against use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes 2 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Generally voted for strengthening the Military Covenant Show votes 8 votes for, 3 votes against, 3 absences, between 2010 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted against military action against ISIL (Daesh) Show votes 2 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Almost always voted for UK membership of the EU Show votes 8 votes for, 1 vote against, 3 absences, between 2016 and 2019. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for a right to remain for EU nationals already in living in the UK Show votes 10 votes for, 2 votes against, 4 absences, between 2016 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for a second referendum on the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU Show votes 2 votes for, 2 absences, between 2017 and 2019. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Almost always voted for fulfilling international treaty obligations Show votes 11 votes for, 3 absences, between 2018 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.

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

How Dawn Butler voted on Business and the Economy #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted against reducing the rate of corporation tax Show votes 2 votes for, 7 votes against, 2 absences, between 2015 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
• Generally voted against measures to reduce tax avoidance Show votes 1 vote for, 3 votes against, 2 absences, between 2016 and 2020. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 40%).
• Consistently voted against stronger tax incentives for companies to invest in assets Show votes 2 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes 2 votes for, 2 absences, between 2016 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 58%) measures to allow free trade Show votes 11 votes for, 8 votes against, 6 absences, between 2016 and 2022. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 55%).
• Tended to vote for (alignment score: 67%) requiring imported goods to meet domestic standards Show votes 2 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2020 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
• Almost always voted for more support for the economy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic Show votes 6 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2020 and 2021. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted for higher taxes on the providers of major social media, search engine and online marketplace services Show votes 2 votes for, in 2021. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 6 September 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.