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 Shaun Woodward 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Voting records for MPs who change parties / have whip withdrawn
This MP has either become an independent MP, changed parties, or had the party whip withdrawn over the course of their time in Parliament.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 Shaun Woodward voted on Social Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes
1 vote for, 5 absences, between 1999 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 45%).
Almost always voted for measures that increased LGBT+ rights and social equality. Show votes
6 votes for, 1 vote against, 2 absences, between 1998 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 38%).
Consistently voted for the hunting ban Show votes
3 votes for, between 2002 and 2004. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally voted for allowing marriage between two people of same sex Show votes
1 vote for, 4 absences, between 2004 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 66%).
Generally voted for laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes
3 votes for, 5 absences, between 2009 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life Show votes
1 vote against, in 1997. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
🗳️ This policy contains a free vote (learn more).
Last updated: 20 Mehefin 2025.
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How Shaun Woodward voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #
For votes held while they were in office:
Consistently voted against investigations into the Iraq war Show votes
2 votes against, 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.
Generally voted against a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU Show votes
1 vote against, 3 absences, 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.
Generally voted for more EU integration Show votes
8 votes for, 18 absences, between 2006 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%).
Consistently voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes
4 votes for, 1 absence, between 2002 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Voted for military action against ISIL (Daesh) Show votes
1 vote for, in 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 18 Mai 2022.
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How Shaun Woodward voted on Taxation and Employment #
For votes held while they were in office:
Generally voted against encouraging occupational pensions Show votes
2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2004 and 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
Generally voted against increasing the rate of VAT Show votes
6 votes against, 3 absences, between 2008 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted against raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes
11 votes against, 7 absences, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted against lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes
1 vote against, 5 absences, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes
1 vote for, 1 vote against, 6 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted against higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes
3 votes against, 6 absences, between 2012 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted for an annual tax on the value of expensive homes (popularly known as a mansion tax ) Show votes
1 vote for, 1 absence, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Consistently voted against allowing employees to exchange some employment rights for shares in the company they work for Show votes
4 votes against, 1 absence, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted against higher taxes on banks Show votes
4 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 6 Tachwedd 2024.
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For votes held while they were in office:
Generally voted for a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes
2 votes for, 1 absence, between 2003 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 48%).
Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes
2 votes for, 2 votes against, 1 absence, between 1999 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Consistently voted against an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes
6 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Generally voted against fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes
1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions .
Generally voted against reducing central government funding of local government Show votes
1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Almost always voted against greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties , such as charities, during elections Show votes
8 votes against, 3 absences, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted against local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes
3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 50%) more powers for local councils Show votes
5 votes for, 5 votes against, 7 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote against (alignment score: 37%).
Generally voted against fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes
1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Generally voted for transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes
1 vote for, 11 absences, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Last updated: 12 Tachwedd 2024.
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How Shaun Woodward voted on Environmental Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
Tended to vote for (alignment score: 60%) measures to prevent climate change Show votes
3 votes for, 2 votes against, 5 absences, between 2000 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 55%).
Generally voted against lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes
1 vote against, 5 absences, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Generally voted against higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes
3 votes against, 6 absences, between 2012 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted for financial incentives for low carbon emission electricity generation methods Show votes
1 vote for, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs tended to vote for (alignment score: 63%).
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.
Voted for improving environmental water quality Show votes
1 vote for, in 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Last updated: 2 Ebrill 2025.
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How Shaun Woodward voted on Miscellaneous Topics #
For votes held while they were in office:
Tended to vote against (alignment score: 38%) greater regulation of gambling Show votes
3 votes for, 5 votes against, 2 absences, between 2004 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs voted a mixture of for and against (alignment score: 55%).
Consistently voted for Labour's anti-terrorism laws Show votes
10 votes for, between 2001 and 2010. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted against.
Generally voted against capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes
3 votes against, 2 absences, in 2010. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Generally voted against the policies included in the 2010 Conservative - Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement Show votes
1 vote for, 28 votes against, 29 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Consistently voted for requiring pub companies to offer pub landlords rent-only leases Show votes
1 vote for, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Generally voted against restricting the scope of legal aid Show votes
4 votes against, 5 absences, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted against limits on success fees paid to lawyers in no-win no fee cases Show votes
3 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011 and 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Generally voted against a statutory register of lobbyists Show votes
2 votes against, 1 absence, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 26 Ebrill 2022.
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How Shaun Woodward voted on Home Affairs #
For votes held while they were in office:
Consistently voted for introducing ID cards Show votes
12 votes for, between 2004 and 2006. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted against.
Generally voted for allowing ministers to intervene in inquests Show votes
2 votes for, 1 absence, between 2008 and 2009. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally voted for a stricter asylum system Show votes
5 votes for, 8 absences, between 2002 and 2007. Comparable Conservative MPs generally voted for.
Generally voted against the introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners Show votes
1 vote against, 3 absences, 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.
Generally voted against making it easier to remove someone's British citizenship Show votes
1 vote against, 1 absence, in 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 17 Ionawr 2024.
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How Shaun Woodward voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #
For votes held while they were in office:
Generally voted against a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes
6 votes against, 12 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted against reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes
1 vote against, 5 absences, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Conservative MPs almost always voted for.
Generally voted for paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes
1 vote for, 6 absences, between 2011 and 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally voted for raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices Show votes
3 votes for, 2 absences, in 2013. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Generally voted against 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 against, 2 absences, in 2012. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Consistently voted for increasing the state pension age for women more slowly Show votes
3 votes for, in 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted against.
Consistently voted against increasing the state pension age Show votes
2 votes against, in 2011. Comparable Conservative MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 18 Mai 2022.
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.
