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.
Learn more about how we'll use your donation and other ways to help.
How Simon Kirby voted on Social Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes
2 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Consistently voted for equal gay rights Show votes
3 votes for, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Consistently voted for allowing marriage between two people of same sex Show votes
5 votes for, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted against laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes
1 vote for, 2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes
1 vote against, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted for supporting marriage and civil partnerships Show votes
3 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
Last updated: 29 November 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Simon Kirby voted on Taxation and Employment #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted for encouraging occupational pensions Show votes
2 votes for, between 2010 and 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for increasing the rate of VAT Show votes
8 votes for, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted for raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes
25 votes for, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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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.
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Consistently voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes
6 votes for, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes
10 votes for, between 2010 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes
9 votes for, between 2012 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted against an annual tax on the value of expensive homes (popularly known as a mansion tax) Show votes
2 votes against, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for allowing employees to exchange some employment rights for shares in the company they work for Show votes
4 votes for, 1 absence, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted for more restrictive regulation of trade union activity Show votes
9 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for higher taxes on banks Show votes
6 votes for, 3 votes against, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Almost always voted for reducing capital gains tax Show votes
6 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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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: 6 November 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Simon Kirby voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes
1 vote for, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes
5 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Voted a mixture of for and against more EU integration Show votes
14 votes for, 12 votes against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Consistently voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes
5 votes for, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted against strengthening the Military Covenant Show votes
1 vote against, between 2011 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for military action against ISIL (Daesh) Show votes
3 votes for, between 2014 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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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.
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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 Simon Kirby voted on Business and the Economy #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted for reducing the rate of corporation tax Show votes
25 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for measures to reduce tax avoidance Show votes
5 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2013 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Voted a mixture of for and against stronger tax incentives for companies to invest in assets Show votes
7 votes for, 5 votes against, between 2010 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Consistently voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes
6 votes for, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted against measures to allow free trade Show votes
2 votes for, 6 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Last updated: 6 September 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted for a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes
1 vote for, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted against a lower voting age Show votes
4 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Voted a mixture of for and against more powers for government ministers Show votes
1 vote for, 1 vote against, between 2011 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Consistently voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes
1 vote for, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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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.
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Consistently voted for an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes
7 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes
2 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
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Consistently voted for reducing central government funding of local government Show votes
5 votes for, between 2010 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties, such as charities, during elections Show votes
11 votes for, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted for local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes
4 votes for, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted against more powers for local councils Show votes
8 votes for, 14 votes against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted for fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes
2 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted against transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes
15 votes against, between 2011 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Almost always voted against transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes
2 votes for, 29 votes against, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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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.
How Simon Kirby voted on Miscellaneous Topics #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted against greater regulation of gambling Show votes
4 votes against, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for the privatisation of Royal Mail Show votes
2 votes for, between 2010 and 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes
5 votes for, in 2010. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Almost always voted for the policies included in the 2010 Conservative - Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement Show votes
54 votes for, 1 vote against, 3 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Voted a mixture of for and against requiring pub companies to offer pub landlords rent-only leases Show votes
1 vote for, 1 vote against, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Almost always voted for restricting the scope of legal aid Show votes
7 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted for allowing national security sensitive evidence to be put before courts in secret sessions Show votes
5 votes for, 1 absence, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted against restrictions on fees charged to tenants by letting agents Show votes
1 vote against, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for limits on success fees paid to lawyers in no-win no fee cases Show votes
6 votes for, between 2011 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for a statutory register of lobbyists Show votes
3 votes for, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted against openness and transparency. Show votes
3 votes for, 8 votes against, 1 absence, between 2012 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Last updated: 26 April 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Simon Kirby voted on Environmental Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted against measures to prevent climate change Show votes
4 votes for, 11 votes against, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes
6 votes for, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes
9 votes for, between 2012 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for financial incentives for low carbon emission electricity generation methods Show votes
2 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2011 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted against greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes
2 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes
6 votes for, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes
2 votes for, 1 absence, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for improving environmental water quality Show votes
1 vote for, in 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Last updated: 15 May 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
As a result of COVID-19, some MPs were less able to vote in Parliament in certain periods, and this will be reflected by absences in their voting record.
- 11th May to 2nd June 2020
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All MPs could vote remotely through an online voting tool. Votes cast remotely are shown as normal on the TheyWorkForYou voting record.
- 2nd to 9th June 2020
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The option of online voting was removed, and a number of MPs may have been unable to vote because they were not physically able to attend.
- 10th June 2020 onwards
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The requirements on proxy voting were relaxed, allowing MPs to designate another MP to cast a vote on their behalf.
If an MP votes by proxy, it is effectively exactly the same as if they cast the vote in person and it shows up on their TheyWorkForYou voting record.
MPs are not required to designate a proxy, and may instead pair with an opposing MP to miss a vote. Parliament does not record when two MPs have come to a pairing arrangement, so on TheyWorkForYou, they will both appear to have been absent for the vote.
See more detail on votes during the COVID-19 period here.
