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.
If you want to support and help us improve these summaries, please consider donating.
Learn more about how we'll use your donation and other ways to help.
How Royston Smith voted on Social Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted against laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2018–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Has never voted on equal gay rights Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2019.
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Has never voted on allowing marriage between two people of same sex Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2019.
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Voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Last updated: 1 March 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Royston Smith voted on Taxation and Employment #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Almost always voted for more restrictive regulation of trade union activity Show votes
16 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 2015–2023. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted for higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes
3 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted against higher taxes on banks Show votes
0 votes for, 11 votes against, between 2015–2022. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted for reducing capital gains tax Show votes
7 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2016–2024. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted for higher taxes specifically to fund health and social care Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted for raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes
11 votes for, 4 votes against, between 2015–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
Last updated: 12 March 2024.
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 veto for MPs from England, Wales and Northern Ireland over laws specifically impacting their part of the UK Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Almost always voted against transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes
2 votes for, 14 votes against, between 2017–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted for reducing central government funding of local government Show votes
3 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016–2019. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Almost always voted against transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes
3 votes for, 29 votes against, between 2015–2023. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted against more powers for local councils Show votes
2 votes for, 6 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015–2022. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted for an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes
3 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2016–2020. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for photographic voter identification at polling stations Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2021–2022. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Has never voted on fewer MPs in the House of Commons Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 2016–2020.
Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
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Generally voted against more powers for the devolved administration in Northern Ireland Show votes
2 votes for, 8 votes against, between 2017–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted against fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes
0 votes for, 3 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted against a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2015–2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Voted for local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted against a lower voting age Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, 1 absence, between 2015–2022. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Has never voted on approving reports and recommendations made by the Standards Committee Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 agreements for, 1 absence, in 2021.
Last updated: 16 January 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Royston Smith voted on Miscellaneous Topics #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted for restricting the scope of legal aid Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2022. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Voted for requiring pub companies to offer pub landlords rent-only leases Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Voted for capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2020. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted for the free movement of goods, and mutual recognition of qualifications, within the United Kingdom Show votes
10 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2020–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
Last updated: 26 April 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Royston Smith voted on Home Affairs #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted for merging police and fire services under Police and Crime Commissioners Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for making it easier to remove those trespassing on land with an intent to reside there Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for making it easier to remove someone's British citizenship Show votes
5 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2021–2022. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for mass surveillance of people’s communications and activities Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2016–2024. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Almost always voted for stronger laws and enforcement of immigration rules Show votes
24 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2015–2024. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Almost always voted for a stricter asylum system Show votes
22 votes for, 1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2015–2024. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted for authorising criminal conduct by undercover officers and covert sources Show votes
3 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2020–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for requiring the mass retention of information about communications Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 25 March 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Royston Smith voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted against a second referendum on the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, between 2017–2019. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Almost always voted against more EU integration Show votes
7 votes for, 42 votes against, 2 absences, between 2019–2020. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes
3 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for military action against ISIL (Daesh) Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Almost always voted against a right to remain for EU nationals already in living in the UK Show votes
1 vote for, 15 votes against, between 2018–2019. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted against strengthening the Military Covenant Show votes
4 votes for, 10 votes against, between 2020–2022. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted against UK membership of the EU Show votes
0 votes for, 12 votes against, between 2017–2019. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 18 May 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Royston Smith voted on Health #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
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Almost always voted for public health measures and social restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 Show votes
16 votes for, 1 vote against, 5 absences, between 2020–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
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Generally voted against fewer obstacles for access to abortion Show votes
0 votes for, 2 votes against, 6 absences, between 2021–2022. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Consistently voted for higher taxes specifically to fund health and social care Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Voted for reforming the NHS so GPs buy services on behalf of their patients Show votes
1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted against reducing the maximum amount an individual may be required to contribute to their social care costs Show votes
0 votes for, 3 votes against, between 2021–2022. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Last updated: 7 March 2023.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Royston Smith voted on Business and the Economy #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted for measures to reduce tax avoidance Show votes
4 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2016–2018. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for stronger tax incentives for companies to invest in assets Show votes
2 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes
3 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted for reducing the rate of corporation tax Show votes
9 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2015–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted against requiring imported goods to meet domestic standards Show votes
1 vote for, 3 votes against, between 2020–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Last updated: 8 December 2021.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Royston Smith voted on Environmental Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted against improving air quality Show votes
0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Almost always voted against the preservation of environmental protections after withdrawal from the EU Show votes
1 vote for, 6 votes against, 1 absence, between 2018–2023. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted against measures to prevent climate change Show votes
3 votes for, 18 votes against, 1 agreement for, between 2021–2024. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted against greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2022. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted against improving biodiversity Show votes
0 votes for, 7 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Has never voted on financial incentives for low carbon emission electricity generation methods Details
0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2018.
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Consistently voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes
3 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted against improving environmental water quality Show votes
0 votes for, 4 votes against, in 2021. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Last updated: 20 February 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Royston Smith voted on Housing #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Voted a mixture of for and against landlords paying for the costs of building safety works Show votes
3 votes for, 3 votes against, 3 absences, between 2021–2022. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for charging a market rent to high earners renting a council home Show votes
5 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2015–2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for phasing out secure tenancies for life Show votes
5 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2015–2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Generally voted against stronger fire safety measures Show votes
0 votes for, 1 vote against, 3 absences, between 2020–2022. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted against more proscriptive planning laws Show votes
0 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2020–2021. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Last updated: 20 April 2022.
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.
Note for journalists and researchers: The data on this page may be used freely, on condition that TheyWorkForYou.com is cited as the source.
This data was produced by TheyWorkForYou from a variety of sources.
For an explanation of the vote descriptions please see our page about voting information on TheyWorkForYou.