Lord Pickles, former MP

Votes
Appearances
Profile
Register of Interests

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.

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11th May to 2nd June 2020

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

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

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.

We will update this information if the situation changes. See more detail on votes during the COVID-19 period here.

A selection of Lord Pickles’s votes

See full list of topics voted on

Generally voted against a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes 1 vote for, 3 votes against, 2 absences, between 2010–2016.
Voted a mixture of for and against encouraging occupational pensions Show votes 1 vote for, 2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2004–2011.
Consistently 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, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2012–2014.
Generally voted for increasing the rate of VAT Show votes 17 votes for, 5 votes against, 4 absences, between 2010–2015.
Voted a mixture of for and against university tuition fees Show votes 3 votes for, 8 votes against, 4 absences, between 1997–2016.
Almost always voted for an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes 10 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010–2016.

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

Recent appearances

Written Answers — Department for Transport: Parking: Databases 21 Mar 2023

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expand the National Parking Platform, given the dismantling of many car parking payment machines and their replacement with mobile apps.
Written Answers — Department for Transport: Parking: Databases 21 Mar 2023

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the devolved governments about the possibility of expanding the National Parking Platform to the whole of the UK, so that motorists can use a parking app of preference and are no longer faced with up to 30 separate parking apps.
Written Answers — Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Council Tax: Mental Illness 30 Jan 2023

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that severely mentally impaired persons who are entitled to attendance allowance qualify for an exception or a discount on council tax within six months of being diagnosed as severely medically impaired by a medical practitioner.

More of Lord Pickles’s recent appearances

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Profile

Conservative Peer

Entered the House of Lords on 18 June 2018

Previously MP for Brentwood and Ongar until 3 May 2017 — Dissolved for election

Entered the House of Commons on 9 April 1992 — General election

Also represented Brentwood and Ongar

Social Media

Expenses

Topics of interest

Lord Pickles campaigned to remain in the European Union Source: BBC

Communities and Local Government
Treasury
Deputy Prime Minister
Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Home Department
Valuation Office Agency
Home Information Packs
Council Tax
Local Government Finance
Valuation Office

Other offices held in the past

Member, COVID-19 Committee (11 Jun 2020 to 28 Apr 2022)
Minister for Faith (6 Aug 2014 to 30 Mar 2015)
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (12 May 2010 to 8 May 2015)
Party Chair, Conservative Party (19 Jan 2009 to 6 May 2010)
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (3 Jul 2007 to 19 Jan 2009)
Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government) (10 May 2005 to 3 Jul 2007)
Deputy Chair, Conservative Party (10 May 2005 to 3 Jul 2007)
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1 Nov 2003 to 10 May 2005)
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (3 May 2002 to 1 Nov 2003)
Shadow Minister (Transport) (1 Jun 2001 to 1 Jun 2002)
Shadow Spokesperson (Work and Pensions) (1 Jun 1998 to 1 Jun 2001)
Member, Transport Sub-committee (15 Jul 1997 to 30 Nov 1998)
Member, Environment, Transport & Regional Affairs Committee (14 Jul 1997 to 30 Nov 1998)
Member, Transport Committee (27 Nov 1995 to 21 Mar 1997)
Vice-Chair, Conservative Party (1 Jul 1993 to 1 May 1997)
Member, Environment Committee (27 Apr 1992 to 1 Mar 1993)

Register of Members’ Interests

Last updated: 2 May 2017.

1. Employment and earnings

From 4 April 2016, non-executive board member of Leo Group Ltd, Swalesmoor Road, Halifax HX3 6UF. Until further notice, I will receive £40,000 per annum for an expected time commitment of 135 hours a year. I consulted ACoBA about this appointment. (Registered 18 April 2016; updated 21 April 2016)

4. Visits outside the UK

Name of donor: Australia Israel Cultural Exchange Limited (AICE)
Address of donor: Suite 836, Level 8, 1 Queens Road, Melbourne 3004 VIC Australia

Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): flight, transport and accommodation with a value of £3,400

Destination of visit: Israel

Dates of visit: 16-20 December 2016

Purpose of visit: Tripartite Australia Israel UK Leadership Dialogue conference in Israel.

(Registered 19 January 2017)

Name of donor: (1) Conservative Friends of Israel (2) Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Address of donor: (1) CFI Ltd, PO Box 72288, London, SW1P 9LB (2) 9 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd., Kiryat Ben-Gurion, Jerusalem 9103001

Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): (1) Air travel, VIP airport service, accommodation, hospitality for me and my spouse, with a value of £7,200 (2) Bus travel for me and my spouse, with a value of £650

Destination of visit: Israel and the West Bank

Dates of visit: 12-17 February 2017

Purpose of visit: Fact finding political delegation.

(Registered 14 March 2017)

8. Miscellaneous

From 18 April 2016, unremunerated member of the advisory board of Community Security Trust, a charity working against antisemitism and racism in British society. (Registered 18 April 2016)

View the history of this MP’s entries in the Register

More about the register

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This data was produced by TheyWorkForYou from a variety of sources. Voting information from Public Whip.

Lord Pickles