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.

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How Charles Kennedy voted on Social Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for allowing marriage between two people of same sex Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 4 absences, between 2013–2014.
• Consistently voted for the hunting ban Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2002–2004.
• Generally voted for equal gay rights Show votes 6 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 1998–2014.
• Voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 1997.
• Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2006–2015.
• Generally voted for laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 7 absences, between 2009–2014.

Last updated: 29 Tachwedd 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Health #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Has never voted on reducing the maximum amount an individual may be required to contribute to their social care costs Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2013.
• Has never voted on fewer obstacles for access to abortion Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2007.
• Consistently voted against introducing foundation hospitals Show votes 0 votes for, 5 votes against, in 2003.
• Has never voted in a major vote about restricting the provision of services to private patients by the NHS Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, in 2011.
• Voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 1997.
• Has never voted in a major vote about reforming the NHS so GPs buy services on behalf of their patients Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, in 2011.
• Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2006–2015.

Last updated: 29 Tachwedd 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Business and the Economy #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for reducing the rate of corporation tax Show votes 9 votes for, 1 vote against, 7 absences, between 2010–2015.
• Has never voted on measures to reduce tax avoidance Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, in 2013.
• Generally voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2013–2014.
• Generally voted against stronger tax incentives for companies to invest in assets Show votes 1 vote for, 3 votes against, 8 absences, between 2011–2014.

Last updated: 8 Rhagfyr 2021. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Home Affairs #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Almost always voted against a stricter asylum system Show votes 1 vote for, 9 votes against, 3 absences, between 2002–2005.
• Generally voted for the introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2010–2011.
• Consistently voted for requiring the mass retention of information about communications Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2009–2014.
• Generally voted against allowing ministers to intervene in inquests Show votes 0 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2008–2009.
• Voted for making it easier to remove someone's British citizenship Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2014.
• Consistently voted against introducing ID cards Show votes 0 votes for, 12 votes against, between 2004–2006.

Last updated: 17 Ionawr 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Taxation and Employment #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Has never voted in a major vote about increasing the tax rate applied to income over £150,000 Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2012.
• Generally voted for higher taxes on banks Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011–2015.
• Generally voted for increasing the rate of VAT Show votes 5 votes for, 0 votes against, 4 absences, between 2008–2013.
• Generally voted for encouraging occupational pensions Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010–2011.
• Generally voted for allowing employees to exchange some employment rights for shares in the company they work for Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 2012–2013.
• Voted for increasing capital gains tax Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2010.
• Generally voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011–2013.
• Generally voted for raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes 8 votes for, 0 votes against, 10 absences, between 2011–2015.
• Generally voted for higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes 4 votes for, 1 vote against, 3 absences, between 2010–2012.
• Has never voted in a major vote about an annual tax on the value of expensive homes (popularly known as a mansion tax) Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2013.
• Generally voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes 4 votes for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2012–2014.
• Consistently voted for automatic enrolment in occupational pensions Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2010.

Last updated: 6 Tachwedd 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Constitutional Reform #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Consistently voted for a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2007–2012.
• Voted for transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 11 absences, between 2011–2015.
• Consistently voted for fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2010–2011.
• Voted a mixture of for and against fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes 1 vote for, 1 vote against, between 2010–2013. Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
• Consistently voted against a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2010.
• Generally voted for more powers for local councils Show votes 3 votes for, 1 vote against, 13 absences, between 2011–2015.
• Voted for a lower voting age Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2005.
• Voted for local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2012–2013.
• Generally voted against transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, 8 absences, in 2014.
• Has never voted on a transparent Parliament Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2007.
• Voted a mixture of for and against an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes 3 votes for, 4 votes against, between 2010–2013.
• Has never voted on greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties, such as charities, during elections Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 11 absences, between 2013–2014.
• Generally voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 1999–2012.
• Generally voted for reducing central government funding of local government Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011–2015.

Last updated: 3 Rhagfyr 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Has never voted on military action against ISIL (Daesh) Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2014.
• Consistently voted against replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes 0 votes for, 2 votes against, in 2007.
• Consistently voted against the Iraq war Show votes 0 votes for, 2 votes against, in 2003.
• Generally voted for more EU integration Show votes 6 votes for, 1 vote against, 19 absences, between 2008–2014.
• Has never voted in a major vote about strengthening the Military Covenant Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2011.
• Generally voted against a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, 3 absences, between 2011–2014.
• Generally voted for investigations into the Iraq war Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2003.
• Voted a mixture of for and against use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes 2 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2003–2014.

Last updated: 18 Mai 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Education #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Voted against raising England’s undergraduate tuition fee cap to £9,000 per year Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2010.
• Voted a mixture of for and against greater autonomy for schools Show votes 2 votes for, 3 votes against, 10 absences, between 2002–2011.
• Voted for academy schools Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2010–2011.
• Consistently voted against university tuition fees Show votes 0 votes for, 4 votes against, between 2004–2010.

Last updated: 21 Chwefror 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Environmental Issues #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011–2013.
• Voted for financial incentives for low carbon emission electricity generation methods Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, between 2012–2013.
• Generally voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2013–2014.
• Generally voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes 4 votes for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2012–2014.
• Voted for improving environmental water quality Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, in 2012.
• Has never voted on greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2015.
• Voted a mixture of for and against measures to prevent climate change Show votes 2 votes for, 3 votes against, 5 absences, between 2008–2013.

Last updated: 15 Mai 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Miscellaneous Topics #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for restricting the scope of legal aid Show votes 4 votes for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2011–2014.
• Generally voted for limits on success fees paid to lawyers in no-win no fee cases Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2012–2013.
• Consistently voted against restrictions on fees charged to tenants by letting agents Show votes 0 votes for, 1 vote against, in 2014.
• Generally voted for greater regulation of gambling Show votes 3 votes for, 1 vote against, 6 absences, between 2004–2013.
• Generally voted for allowing national security sensitive evidence to be put before courts in secret sessions Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, 4 absences, between 2012–2013.
• Has never voted in a major vote about requiring pub companies to offer pub landlords rent-only leases Show votes 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2014.
• Generally voted for capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, in 2010.
• Consistently voted for the privatisation of Royal Mail Show votes 2 votes for, 0 votes against, between 2010–2011.
• Has never voted on a statutory register of lobbyists Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, in 2013.
• Almost always voted against Labour's anti-terrorism laws Show votes 0 votes for, 8 votes against, 2 absences, between 2001–2005.
• Generally voted for the policies included in the 2010 Conservative - Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement Show votes 22 votes for, 3 votes against, 33 absences, between 2010–2014.

Last updated: 26 Ebrill 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Voted a mixture of for and against reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes 1 vote for, 1 vote against, 4 absences, between 2011–2014.
• Voted a mixture of for and against a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes 2 votes for, 3 votes against, 1 abstention, 12 absences, between 2012–2014.
• Has never voted on increasing the state pension age Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 2 absences, in 2011.
• Voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support Show votes 1 vote for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, in 2012.
• Has never voted on paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 7 absences, between 2011–2012.
• Generally voted for raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices Show votes 2 votes for, 1 vote against, 1 abstention, 1 absence, in 2013.
• Has never voted on increasing the state pension age for women more slowly Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, in 2011.

Last updated: 18 Mai 2022. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

How Charles Kennedy voted on Transport #

For votes held while they were in office:

• Generally voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes 4 votes for, 0 votes against, 5 absences, between 2012–2014.
• Generally voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes 3 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011–2013.
• Has never voted on a publicly owned railway system Details 0 votes for, 0 votes against, 1 absence, in 2014.

Last updated: 29 Gorffennaf 2024. Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.

More on their full voting record on Public Whip