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 read more about our process, the kinds of votes we include, how we compare MPs to parties, and why we think this is important.

Below are summaries of how Kirsten Oswald has voted on key issues, grouped by policy area (randomly ordered).

Kirsten Oswald’s voting in Parliament

Kirsten Oswald was previously a Scottish National Party MP, and on the vast majority of issues would have followed instructions from their party and voted the same way as Scottish National Party MPs.

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Social Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes 1 vote for, between 2015 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted for.

Last updated: 20 April 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Almost always voted against a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes 1 vote for, 11 votes against, 3 absences, between 2015 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted for paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes 6 votes for, 1 absence, between 2015 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs almost always voted for.
• Consistently voted against increasing the state pension age Show votes 3 votes against, between 2021 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.

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

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Environmental Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for measures to prevent climate change Show votes 12 votes for, 2 votes against, 7 absences, between 2015 and 2024. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally 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 Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes 1 vote for, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) the preservation of environmental protections after withdrawal from the EU Show votes 1 vote for, 1 vote against, between 2016 and 2023. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 48%).
• Generally voted for improving biodiversity Show votes 1 vote for, 6 absences, in 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for improving air quality Show votes 1 vote for, 4 absences, in 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for improving environmental water quality Show votes 1 vote for, 4 absences, between 2021 and 2024. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) measures to encourage purchase and use of electric vehicles Show votes 1 vote against, 1 agreement, 1 absence, between 2021 and 2023. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%).

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

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes 1 vote against, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted against a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes 3 votes against, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for more EU integration Show votes 15 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted against use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes 2 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for strengthening the Military Covenant Show votes 10 votes for, 4 votes against, between 2020 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted against military action against ISIL (Daesh) Show votes 2 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted for UK membership of the EU Show votes 5 votes for, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2017. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted for.
• Consistently voted for a right to remain for EU nationals already in living in the UK Show votes 7 votes for, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted for.

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

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Education #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against academy schools Show votes 1 vote against, in 2016. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.

Last updated: 25 May 2016. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Kirsten Oswald 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, 5 votes against, 4 absences, between 2015 and 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted against.
• Tended to vote against (alignment score: 33%) measures to reduce tax avoidance Show votes 1 vote for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2020. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%).
• Consistently voted against stronger tax incentives for companies to invest in assets Show votes 2 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes 1 vote for, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for requiring imported goods to meet domestic standards Show votes 3 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2020 and 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.

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

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Health #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for public health measures and social restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 Show votes 1 vote for, 21 absences, between 2020 and 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party 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 Scottish National Party MPs consistently 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 Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.

Last updated: 25 April 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Transport #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for increasing local council power over bus services Details 1 agreement, in 0.

Last updated: 10 September 2025. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Miscellaneous Topics #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Voted against capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes 1 vote against, in 2020. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs voted against.
• Voted against requiring pub companies to offer pub landlords rent-only leases Show votes 1 vote against, in 2016. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted against the free movement of goods, and mutual recognition of qualifications, within the United Kingdom Show votes 3 votes for, 9 votes against, 2 absences, between 2020 and 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted against.

Last updated: 19 January 2021. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Housing #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for stronger fire safety measures Show votes 1 vote for, 3 absences, between 2020 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.

Last updated: 19 January 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Home Affairs #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted against a stricter asylum system Show votes 1 vote for, 24 votes against, between 2015 and 2024. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against requiring the mass retention of information about communications Show votes 2 votes against, in 2016. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Almost always voted against stronger laws and enforcement of immigration rules Show votes 2 votes for, 23 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015 and 2024. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against mass surveillance of people’s communications and activities Show votes 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2024. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against authorising criminal conduct by undercover officers and covert sources Show votes 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2020 and 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted against making it easier to remove those trespassing on land with an intent to reside there Show votes 3 votes against, 1 absence, in 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Consistently voted against making it easier to remove someone's British citizenship Show votes 5 votes against, between 2021 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.

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

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Taxation and Employment #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Tended to vote against (alignment score: 38%) raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes 3 votes for, 5 votes against, 3 absences, between 2015 and 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 31%).
• Consistently voted against higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes 3 votes against, in 2017. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Almost always voted against more restrictive regulation of trade union activity Show votes 16 votes against, 2 absences, between 2015 and 2023. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs almost always voted against.
• Consistently voted for higher taxes on banks Show votes 6 votes for, 1 absence, between 2015 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party 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 Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for increasing capital gains tax Show votes 4 votes for, 2 absences, between 2016 and 2024. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted for.

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

How Kirsten Oswald voted on Constitutional Reform #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for a lower voting age Show votes 4 votes for, 2 absences, between 2015 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.
• Generally voted for a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes 1 vote for, 1 absence, between 2015 and 2020. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally 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 Scottish National Party MPs generally voted against.
• Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) more powers for local councils Show votes 1 vote for, 1 vote against, 7 absences, between 2015 and 2024. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 51%).
• Consistently voted for fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes 3 votes for, in 2021. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted for.
• Generally voted for transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes 2 votes for, 6 absences, between 2016 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.
• Almost always voted for transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes 22 votes for, 2 absences, between 2015 and 2024. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs almost always 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 Scottish National Party MPs consistently voted against.
• Generally voted for more powers for the devolved administration in Northern Ireland Show votes 2 votes for, 1 absence, between 2020 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.
• Consistently voted against photographic voter identification at polling stations Show votes 4 votes against, between 2021 and 2022. Comparable Scottish National Party 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 Scottish National Party MPs generally voted for.

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