A selection of Lord Beith's votes

See full list of topics voted on

• Consistently voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices Show votes 0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2013
• Generally voted against a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes 1 vote for, 3 votes against, 5 absences, between 2008–2014
• Almost always voted for increasing the rate of VAT Show votes 19 votes for, 1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2008–2013
• Consistently voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes 0 votes for, 7 votes against, between 2011–2012
• Almost always voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes 14 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2012–2014
• Consistently voted for reducing central government funding of local government Show votes 4 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2010–2015

We have lots more plain English analysis of Lord Beith’s voting record on issues like health, welfare, taxation and more. Visit Lord Beith’s full vote analysis page for more.

Recent appearances

• Upcoming Business – Lords: Main Chamber 18 Jul 2018

  Ensuring the Cross Country rail franchise, when re-let, continues to provide regular services to stations north of Newcastle. – Lord Beith. Oral questions

• Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill [HL] - Second Reading 20 Jun 2018

  My Lords, when the Bill was published, I described it as, “a little mouse of a Bill”.—[ Official Report, 6/6/18; col. 1306.] I did so because it has been shorn of most of the provisions the Government had intended to include in legislation and is drafted in such a way as to try to discourage the addition of any of those provisions by way of amendments. That has to be set...

• European Union (Withdrawal) Bill - Commons Reasons and Amendments 18 Jun 2018

  My Lords, in the same spirit, I thank the Minister for the full and careful explanation he has given today and thank him and the Solicitor-General for their assistance in going into this carefully. My concern was about setting up the Government and Ministers as gatekeepers to the court room without any clear principles or certainty about whether there would be regulations. We now have on the...

More of Lord Beith’s recent appearances

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Profile

Liberal Democrat Peer

Entered the House of Lords on 23 November 2015

Previously MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed until 30 March 2015 — General election

Entered the House of Commons on 8 November 1973 — unknown

Also represented Berwick-upon-Tweed

• Personal website
• Wikipedia page
• BBC News profile

Expenses

• Expenses from 2004 to 2009
• Expenses from 2010 onwards

Topics of interest

• Environment Food and Rural Affairs
• Health
• Trade and Industry
• Defence
• Treasury
• Unpaid Advisers
• Public Records
• Correspondence
• Parliamentary Advisers
• Project Sponsorship

Currently held offices

• Member, Lord Speaker's committee on the size of the House (since 20 Dec 2016)
• Member, Constitution Committee (since 25 May 2016)

Other offices held in the past

• Chair, Liaison Committee (Commons) (21 Jul 2010 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Chair, National Policy Statements Sub-Committee (21 Jul 2010 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Member, National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) (13 Jan 2010 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Member, Committee on Issue of Privilege (Police Searches on Parliamentary Estate) (13 Jul 2009 to 6 May 2010)
• Chair, Justice Committee (6 Nov 2007 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Member, Constitutional Affairs Committee (5 Nov 2007 to 8 Nov 2007)
• Member, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (9 Oct 2006 to 6 May 2010)
• Member, Liaison Committee (Commons) (4 Feb 2003 to 21 Jul 2010)
• Chair, Constitutional Affairs Committee (4 Feb 2003 to 5 Nov 2007)
• Member, Constitutional Affairs Committee (28 Jan 2003 to 4 Feb 2003)
• Member, Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (30 Jul 2001 to 24 Nov 2008)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Cabinet Office) (1 Jun 2001 to 1 Jun 2002)
• Member, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission (1 Jan 2001 to 24 May 2005)
• Member, Procedure Committee (14 Feb 2000 to 11 May 2001)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs) (1 Jan 1995 to 1 Jan 1997)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs) (1 Jan 1994 to 1 Jun 1999)
• Member, Treasury & Civil Service Committee (17 Jun 1987 to 28 Nov 1994)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Treasury) (1 Jan 1987 to 1 Jun 1994)
• Member, Privileges Committee (14 May 1986 to 15 May 1987)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) (1 Jan 1985 to 1 Jan 1987)
• Member, Liaison Committee (Commons) (9 Jun 1983 to 5 Dec 1985)
• Member, House of Commons (Services): Accomodation & Administration Sub-Committee (9 Jun 1983 to 5 Dec 1985)
• Member, Procedure Committee (1 Nov 1978 to 15 May 1987)
• Member, Committee of Selection (1 Nov 1978 to 9 Jun 1983)
• Opposition Whip (Commons) (1 Jan 1976 to 1 Jan 1987)

Public bill committees (Sittings attended)

• Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Bill Committee (1 out of 1)
• Presumption of Death Bill Committee (0 out of 1)
• Hunting Bill Committee (14 out of 16)

Numerology

Please note that numbers do not measure quality. Also, representatives may do other things not currently covered by this site. More about this

• Has spoken in 689 debates in the last year — well above average amongst Lords. See all Lord Beith’s speeches
• Has received answers to 39 written questions in the last year — well above average amongst Lords.
• Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a high number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2014, according to constituents.
• Has voted in 80.48% of votes in this House with this affiliation up to the 2015 general election — well above average amongst Lords. (From Public Whip)
• People have made 117 annotations on this Lord’s speeches — well above average amongst Lords.
• This MP’s speeches, in Hansard, are readable by an average 19–20 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
• 36 people are tracking this peer — email me updates on Lord Beith’s activity
• Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 52 times in debates — average amongst Lords. (Why is this here?)