Voting summaries
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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Colum Eastwood’s voting in Parliament
Colum Eastwood is a Social Democratic And Labour Party MP, and on the vast majority of issues follow instructions from their party and vote the same way as other Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs.
Colum Eastwood has never rebelled against their party in the current parliament. Find out more.
For votes held while they were in office:
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Voted for approving reports and recommendations made by the Standards Committee Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, 2 agreements for, 1 absence, between 2021–2023.
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Consistently voted for transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2020–2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted for more powers for the devolved administration in Northern Ireland Show votes
2 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2020–2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Generally voted for more powers for local councils Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2021–2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Voted for a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Voted for a lower voting age Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Has never voted on fewer MPs in the House of Commons Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2020.
Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
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Voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2024.
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Generally voted for fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2021.
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Generally voted against photographic voter identification at polling stations Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, 3 absences, between 2021–2022.
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Generally voted against an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes
1 vote for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, in 2020. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted for transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2020–2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted for.
Last updated: 12 November 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Colum Eastwood voted on Taxation and Employment #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted against higher taxes specifically to fund health and social care Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
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Consistently voted for higher taxes on banks Show votes
3 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2021–2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
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Voted for higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
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Consistently voted against more restrictive regulation of trade union activity Show votes
0 votes for, 7 votes against, between 2022–2023. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted for increasing capital gains tax Show votes
3 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
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Consistently voted for raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
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Consistently voted for increasing stamp duty Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
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Consistently voted for increasing windfall tax on oil and gas companies Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
Last updated: 6 November 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Colum Eastwood voted on Home Affairs #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted against a stricter asylum system Show votes
0 votes for, 21 votes against, 1 absence, between 2020–2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted against making it easier to remove someone's British citizenship Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, between 2021–2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted against authorising criminal conduct by undercover officers and covert sources Show votes
0 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2020–2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted against making it easier to remove those trespassing on land with an intent to reside there Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted for.
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Almost always voted against stronger laws and enforcement of immigration rules Show votes
2 votes for, 14 votes against, between 2021–2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs almost always voted against.
Last updated: 22 May 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Colum Eastwood voted on Miscellaneous Topics #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Voted against restricting the scope of legal aid Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, in 2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
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Voted against capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2020. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
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Generally voted against the free movement of goods, and mutual recognition of qualifications, within the United Kingdom Show votes
2 votes for, 10 votes against, 2 absences, between 2020–2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted against.
Last updated: 26 April 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Colum Eastwood voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Voted against means-testing/removing universality on winter fuel payments for pensioners Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted against increasing the state pension age Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2021–2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted against.
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Voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, in 2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted against.
Last updated: 10 September 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Colum Eastwood voted on Health #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted against higher taxes specifically to fund health and social care Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for fewer obstacles for access to abortion Show votes
5 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2020–2023. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted for public health measures and social restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, 18 absences, between 2020–2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted for.
Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
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Generally voted for reducing the maximum amount an individual may be required to contribute to their social care costs Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2021–2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs generally voted for.
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Voted for allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
Last updated: 29 November 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Colum Eastwood voted on Environmental Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted for improving air quality Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, in 2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
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Generally voted for measures to prevent climate change Show votes
7 votes for, 0 votes against, 6 absences, between 2020–2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs almost always voted for.
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Voted against the preservation of environmental protections after withdrawal from the EU Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Voted for improving biodiversity Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, 6 absences, in 2021. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Has never voted on new high speed rail infrastructure Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2021.
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Generally voted for improving environmental water quality Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2021–2024.
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Consistently voted for increasing windfall tax on oil and gas companies Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2024. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
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Voted for greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2022. Comparable Social Democratic And Labour Party MPs has never voted in a major vote about.
Last updated: 6 November 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.