As MPs return to the House of Commons – and the headlines – this week, following the Easter recess, we take a look at what contribution Cumbrian MPs have made to the chamber.
In the first of this series, analysis shows how often the MPs have voted, how many debates they taken part in, and how many parliamentary questions they asked since the last general election.
The figures, from the House of Commons Library, show the activities of MPs between the state opening of Parliament on December 16 2019 and March 7 this year.
Simon Fell, Barrow and Furness, Conservative
Of the 491 votes over this time, Simon Fell recorded 491 ayes or noes in votes. He recorded no vote, or abstained, on 68 occasions – a participation rate of 86 per cent.
The voting average for all UK politicians who have sat in the House of Commons since the election (excluding the Speakers) is 81 per cent.
The HoC Library said MPs may not vote because they are carrying out other work related to their parliamentary, government or opposition roles.
Participation rates may also be affected by pairing arrangements, where MPs from different parties who cannot attend a division agree to cancel out one another’s vote.
Before divisions, debates are held for members to discuss government policy, new laws and topical issues of the day to help the House reach an informed decision.
Since the last election, Mr Fell, 41, has taken part in 87 debates, speaking a total of 25,034 words.
The average MP has spoken 44,530 words over the same period, Prime Minister Boris Johnson around 394,000 and Democratic Unionist Party MP Jim Shannon 560,000.
These include spoken contributions and oral questions in the House of Commons chamber and in Westminster Hall, but not those shorter than four words.
The HoC Library said MPs with roles in Government – such as Copeland’s Trudy Harrison – tend to ask fewer parliamentary questions but speak relatively frequently on their portfolio subjects.
Mr Fell, who was elected in 2019, has asked 69 Parliamentary Questions since the last election.
This included 27 put to a government minister in person, 31 in writing and three topical questions – those asked during the last 15 minutes of most ministerial question sessions.
He asked eight during Prime Minister’s Questions – the weekly session when the PM faces scrutiny in the House.
John Stevenson, Carlisle, Conservative
John Stevenson recorded 408 ayes or noes in votes. He recorded no vote, or abstained, 83 times – a participation rate of 83 per cent.
Since the last election, Mr Stevenson, 58, has taken part in 26 debates, speaking a total of 10,014 words.
Mr Stevenson, who was elected in 2010, has asked 61 Parliamentary Questions since the last election.
This included nine put to a government minister in person, 44 in writing, one topical question and seven during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Trudy Harrison, Copeland, Conservative
Mrs Harrison, who serves in the Government, recorded 433 ayes or noes.
She recorded no vote, or abstained, on 58 occasions – giving the Tory representative a participation rate of 88 per cent.
Since the last election, Mrs Harrison, 46, has taken part in 33 debates, speaking a total of 19,226 words.
The figures also show Mrs Harrison, who was elected in 2017, has asked two Parliamentary Questions since the last election. Both of these were topical.
But she has not quizzed the Prime Minister on any issues during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Neil Hudson, Penrith and the Border, Conservative
Neil Hudson recorded 438 ayes or noes.
He recorded no vote, or abstained, on 53 occasions – giving the Tory representative a participation rate of 89 per cent.
Since the last election, Dr Hudson has taken part in 83 debates, speaking a total of 23,773 words.
Dr Hudson, elected in 2019, has asked 97 Parliamentary Questions since the last election.
This included 33 put to a government minister in person, 47 in writing, eight topical questions and nine during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat
Tim Farron, an opposition MP, recorded 487 ayes or noes in votes.
He recorded no vote, or abstained, on 103 occasions – a participation rate of 79 per cent.
Since the last election, Mr Farron, 51, has taken part in 178 debates, speaking a total of 101,444 words.
Mr Farron, who has been an MP since 2005, has asked 395 Parliamentary Questions since the last election.
This included 22 put to a government minister in person, 364 in writing, eight topical questions and one during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Mark Jenkinson, Workington, Conservative
Mark Jenkinson, who serves as a backbench MP, recorded 430 ayes or noes.
He recorded no vote, or abstained, on 61 occasions – giving the Tory representative a participation rate of 88 per cent.
Since the last election, Mr Jenkinson, 40, has taken part in 68 debates, speaking a total of 15,647 words.
The figures also show Mr Jenkinson, elected in 2019, has asked 81 Parliamentary Questions since the last election.
This included 33 put to a government minister in person, 33 in writing and nine topical questions and six during Prime Minister’s Questions.
