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 David Ruffley has voted on key issues, grouped by policy area (randomly ordered).
Voting records for MPs who change parties / have whip withdrawn
This MP has either become an independent MP, changed parties, or had the party whip withdrawn over the course of their time in Parliament.
In the votes below they are compared to their original party (Conservative).
How David Ruffley voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #
For votes held while they were in office:
Consistently voted for investigations into the Iraq war Show votes
2 votes for, between 2003 and 2009. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes
2 votes for, between 2007 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes
2 votes for, 2 votes against, between 2008 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 59%).
Consistently voted for the Iraq war Show votes
2 votes for, between 2002 and 2003. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Tended to vote against (alignment score: 38%) more EU integration Show votes
6 votes for, 10 votes against, 10 absences, between 2006 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%).
Generally voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes
3 votes for, 2 absences, between 2002 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted against strengthening the Military Covenant Show votes
1 vote against, between 2010 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Last updated: 18 Mai 2022.
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How David Ruffley voted on Taxation and Employment #
For votes held while they were in office:
Generally voted for increasing the rate of VAT Show votes
4 votes for, 5 absences, between 2008 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted for raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes
17 votes for, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted against increasing the tax rate applied to income over £150,000 Show votes
2 votes against, between 2012 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Consistently voted for lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes
5 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Almost always voted for higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes
6 votes for, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted for higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes
9 votes for, between 2012 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted against an annual tax on the value of expensive homes (popularly known as a mansion tax ) Show votes
2 votes against, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Consistently voted for allowing employees to exchange some employment rights for shares in the company they work for Show votes
4 votes for, 1 absence, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted for higher taxes on banks Show votes
5 votes for, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 6 Tachwedd 2024.
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How David Ruffley voted on Home Affairs #
For votes held while they were in office:
Almost always voted against introducing ID cards Show votes
1 vote for, 10 votes against, 1 absence, between 2004 and 2006. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Consistently voted against allowing ministers to intervene in inquests Show votes
3 votes against, between 2008 and 2009. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally voted for a stricter asylum system Show votes
5 votes for, 1 vote against, 7 absences, between 2002 and 2007. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
Consistently voted for the introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners Show votes
3 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted for requiring the mass retention of information about communications Show votes
3 votes for, 1 absence, between 2009 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
Consistently voted for making it easier to remove someone's British citizenship Show votes
2 votes for, in 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 17 Ionawr 2024.
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How David Ruffley voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #
For votes held while they were in office:
Almost always voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes
15 votes for, 3 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes
5 votes for, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes
7 votes against, between 2011 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices Show votes
3 votes against, 2 absences, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally 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
2 votes for, 2 absences, in 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Generally voted against increasing the state pension age for women more slowly Show votes
2 votes against, 1 absence, in 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally voted for increasing the state pension age Show votes
1 vote for, 1 absence, in 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 18 Mai 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How David Ruffley voted on Miscellaneous Topics #
For votes held while they were in office:
Generally voted for greater regulation of gambling Show votes
5 votes for, 2 votes against, 3 absences, between 2004 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 54%).
Almost always voted against Labour's anti-terrorism laws Show votes
1 vote for, 7 votes against, 2 absences, between 2001 and 2010. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Consistently voted for the privatisation of Royal Mail Show votes
2 votes for, between 2009 and 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Almost always voted for the policies included in the 2010 Conservative - Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement Show votes
41 votes for, 4 votes against, 13 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted against requiring pub companies to offer pub landlords rent-only leases Show votes
1 vote against, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Consistently voted for restricting the scope of legal aid Show votes
8 votes for, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted for allowing national security sensitive evidence to be put before courts in secret sessions Show votes
4 votes for, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
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 a statutory register of lobbyists Show votes
3 votes for, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 26 Ebrill 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
For votes held while they were in office:
Generally voted against a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes
2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2003 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 48%).
Generally voted against a transparent Parliament Show votes
1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2007 and 2009. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Consistently voted against removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes
5 votes against, between 1999 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Consistently voted against a more proportional system for electing MPs Show votes
1 vote against, in 2010. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally voted for an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes
4 votes for, 3 absences, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted for fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes
2 votes for, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions .
Generally voted for reducing central government funding of local government Show votes
2 votes for, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted for greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties , such as charities, during elections Show votes
11 votes for, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted for local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes
2 votes for, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Tended to vote against (alignment score: 36%) more powers for local councils Show votes
4 votes for, 7 votes against, 6 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 37%).
Generally voted for fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes
1 vote for, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted against transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes
8 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Generally voted against transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes
1 vote for, 3 votes against, 8 absences, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Last updated: 3 Rhagfyr 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How David Ruffley voted on Social Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
Generally voted against smoking bans Show votes
2 votes against, 4 absences, between 1999 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 45%).
Generally voted against measures that increased LGBT+ rights and social equality. Show votes
1 vote for, 3 votes against, 5 absences, between 1998 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 39%).
Generally voted against the hunting ban Show votes
2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2002 and 2004. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally voted against allowing marriage between two people of same sex Show votes
2 votes against, 3 absences, between 2004 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 66%).
Generally voted against laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes
1 vote for, 4 votes against, 3 absences, between 2009 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Last updated: 7 Mai 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.
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