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 Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park has voted on key issues, grouped by policy area (randomly ordered).
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park’s voting in Parliament
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park was previously a Conservative MP, and on the vast majority of issues would have followed instructions from their party and voted the same way as Conservative MPs.
Where MPs differ is either because they have made a decision not to follow the party whip (rebelling), or where they have differed from the majority of their colleagues in a free vote.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park sometimes differs from their party colleagues, such as:
Tended to vote for (alignment score: 67%) greater regulation of gambling Show votes
2 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally voted against a statutory register of lobbyists Show votes
1 vote against, 2 absences, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Tended to vote for (alignment score: 64%) measures to prevent climate change Show votes
6 votes for, 4 votes against, 1 agreement, 5 absences, between 2011 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 30%).
Generally voted for greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes
1 vote for, 1 absence, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Consistently voted against a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes
1 vote against, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 68%).
Consistently voted against removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes
1 vote against, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 68%).
Generally voted against greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties , such as charities, during elections Show votes
1 vote for, 6 votes against, 4 absences, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Voted for allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes
1 vote for, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
🗳️ This policy contains a free vote (learn more).
Voted against adding a third runway at Heathrow Airport Show votes
1 vote against, in 2018. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
In the last year, Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park has an alignment score of 100% with other MPs of their party (over 264 votes). Find out more .
How Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park voted on Miscellaneous Topics #
Last voted on between 2017 and 2019
Last voted on between 2017 and 2014
Consistently voted for limits on success fees paid to lawyers in no-win no fee cases Show votes
5 votes for, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted for capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes
5 votes for, in 2010. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Generally voted against a statutory register of lobbyists Show votes
1 vote against, 2 absences, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Almost always voted for restricting the scope of legal aid Show votes
7 votes for, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted for the privatisation of Royal Mail Show votes
2 votes for, between 2010 and 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Generally voted for allowing national security sensitive evidence to be put before courts in secret sessions Show votes
3 votes for, 3 absences, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Tended to vote for (alignment score: 67%) greater regulation of gambling Show votes
2 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Last updated: 26 April 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park voted on Environmental Issues #
Last voted on between 2017 and 2019
Consistently voted against the preservation of environmental protections after withdrawal from the EU Show votes
6 votes against, between 2016 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Almost always voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes
6 votes for, 2 absences, between 2013 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted for financial incentives for low carbon emission electricity generation methods Show votes
2 votes for, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 45%).
Generally voted for greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes
1 vote for, 1 absence, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Almost always voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes
7 votes for, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Tended to vote for (alignment score: 64%) measures to prevent climate change Show votes
6 votes for, 4 votes against, 1 agreement, 5 absences, between 2011 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 30%).
Last voted on between 2017 and 2014
Last updated: 11 February 2026.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
Last voted on between 2017 and 2019
Generally voted against more powers for the devolved administration in Northern Ireland Show votes
2 votes for, 5 votes against, between 2017 and 2018. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Generally voted against a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes
1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
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, in 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted for fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes
2 votes for, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions .
Consistently voted against removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes
1 vote against, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 68%).
Generally voted for reducing central government funding of local government Show votes
4 votes for, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted against a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes
1 vote against, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 68%).
Generally voted against greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties , such as charities, during elections Show votes
1 vote for, 6 votes against, 4 absences, between 2013 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted against transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes
2 votes for, 19 votes against, 19 absences, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Generally voted against a lower voting age Show votes
1 vote against, 4 absences, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Generally voted for local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes
3 votes for, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) more powers for local councils Show votes
9 votes for, 9 votes against, 5 absences, between 2010 and 2018. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 36%).
Generally voted against transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes
3 votes for, 15 votes against, 4 absences, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Last voted on between 2017 and 2014
Last updated: 3 December 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #
Last voted on between 2017 and 2019
Generally voted against more EU integration Show votes
6 votes for, 33 votes against, 13 absences, between 2010 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 34%).
Almost always voted against a right to remain for EU nationals already in living in the UK Show votes
1 vote for, 7 votes against, 1 absence, between 2016 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes
1 vote for, between 2015 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted for military action against ISIL (Daesh) Show votes
3 votes for, between 2014 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted against a second referendum on the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU Show votes
4 votes against, between 2017 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Consistently voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes
4 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted against UK membership of the EU Show votes
7 votes against, between 2016 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Consistently voted for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes
6 votes for, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
Last voted on between 2017 and 2014
Last updated: 18 May 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park voted on Taxation and Employment #
Last voted on between 2017 and 2019
Consistently voted for increasing the rate of VAT Show votes
8 votes for, between 2010 and 2019. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Almost always voted for higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes
5 votes for, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Almost always voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes
7 votes for, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2017. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Almost always voted against increasing income tax (in real terms) Show votes
20 votes against, 9 absences, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Tended to vote against (alignment score: 36%) higher taxes on banks Show votes
4 votes for, 7 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2018. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 44%).
Tended to vote against (alignment score: 33%) increasing capital gains tax Show votes
1 vote for, 2 votes against, 3 absences, between 2010 and 2016. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Consistently voted for more restrictive regulation of trade union activity Show votes
3 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last voted on between 2017 and 2014
Last updated: 2 December 2025.
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
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.
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 .
Profile photo: © Parliament (CC-BY 3.0)
