Voting summaries
For period: All time
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.
Learn more about how we'll use your donation and other ways to help.
Douglas Alexander’s voting in Parliament
Douglas Alexander is a Labour MP, and on the vast majority of issues follow instructions from their party and vote the same way as other Labour MPs.
In the last year, Douglas Alexander has an alignment score of 99% with other MPs of their party (over 203 votes). Find out more.
How Douglas Alexander voted on Social Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted for smoking bans Show votes
2 votes for, 4 absences, between 1999 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted for equal gay rights Show votes
6 votes for, 3 absences, between 1998 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted for the hunting ban Show votes
3 votes for, between 2002 and 2004. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for allowing marriage between two people of same sex Show votes
5 votes for, between 2004 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted for laws to promote equality and human rights Show votes
4 votes for, 2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2009 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted against supporting marriage and civil partnerships Show votes
3 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
Last updated: 1 Mawrth 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Douglas Alexander voted on Taxation and Employment #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted against encouraging occupational pensions Show votes
2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2004 and 2011. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted against increasing the rate of VAT Show votes
6 votes against, 3 absences, between 2008 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Almost always voted against raising the threshold at which people start to pay income tax Show votes
15 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted for increasing the tax rate applied to income over £150,000 Show votes
1 vote for, 1 absence, between 2012 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for a banker’s bonus tax Show votes
1 vote for, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted against lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes
4 votes against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Generally voted against higher taxes on alcoholic drinks Show votes
2 votes for, 5 votes against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted against higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes
5 votes against, 4 absences, between 2012 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted for an annual tax on the value of expensive homes (popularly known as a mansion tax) Show votes
2 votes for, in 2013. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted against allowing employees to exchange some employment rights for shares in the company they work for Show votes
2 votes against, 3 absences, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted against higher taxes on banks Show votes
5 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for reducing capital gains tax Show votes
1 vote for, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for increasing windfall tax on oil and gas companies Show votes
4 votes for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for increasing stamp duty Show votes
2 votes for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for increasing in employers' national insurance contributions Show votes
1 vote for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted for increasing capital gains tax Show votes
3 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2010 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
Last updated: 17 Rhagfyr 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Douglas Alexander voted on Miscellaneous Topics #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted against greater regulation of gambling Show votes
1 vote for, 3 votes against, 6 absences, between 2004 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Almost always voted for Labour's anti-terrorism laws Show votes
8 votes for, 2 absences, between 2001 and 2010. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted against the privatisation of Royal Mail Show votes
1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2009 and 2011. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted against capping civil service redundancy payments Show votes
5 votes against, in 2010. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Almost always voted against the policies included in the 2010 Conservative - Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement Show votes
3 votes for, 42 votes against, 13 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Consistently voted for requiring pub companies to offer pub landlords rent-only leases Show votes
1 vote for, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Almost always voted against restricting the scope of legal aid Show votes
1 vote for, 6 votes against, 2 absences, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted against allowing national security sensitive evidence to be put before courts in secret sessions Show votes
2 votes against, 4 absences, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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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 Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted against a statutory register of lobbyists Show votes
3 votes against, in 2013. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Generally voted for openness and transparency. Show votes
5 votes for, 3 votes against, 11 absences, between 2007 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
Last updated: 26 Ebrill 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Douglas Alexander voted on Business and the Economy #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Almost always voted against reducing the rate of corporation tax Show votes
1 vote for, 14 votes against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted against measures to reduce tax avoidance Show votes
2 votes against, 1 absence, between 2013 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Voted a mixture of for and against stronger tax incentives for companies to invest in assets Show votes
4 votes for, 5 votes against, 3 absences, between 2010 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Generally voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes
1 vote for, 4 absences, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
Last updated: 8 Rhagfyr 2021.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Douglas Alexander voted on Foreign Policy and Defence #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted against investigations into the Iraq war Show votes
2 votes against, between 2003 and 2009. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system Show votes
2 votes for, between 2007 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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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 Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Consistently voted for the Iraq war Show votes
2 votes for, between 2002 and 2003. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted for more EU integration Show votes
11 votes for, 15 absences, between 2006 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas Show votes
4 votes for, 1 absence, between 2002 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Consistently voted for strengthening the Military Covenant Show votes
1 vote for, between 2010 and 2012. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for military action against ISIL (Daesh) Show votes
1 vote for, in 2014. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
Last updated: 18 Mai 2022.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
For votes held while they were in office:
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Generally voted for a wholly elected House of Lords Show votes
3 votes for, 1 vote against, between 2003 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Voted a mixture of for and against more powers for government ministers Show votes
1 vote for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2006 and 2012. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords Show votes
3 votes for, 3 absences, between 1999 and 2024. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted against an equal number of electors per parliamentary constituency Show votes
6 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted against fewer MPs in the House of Commons Show votes
2 votes against, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
Absences for this policy may be affected COVID-19 restrictions.
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Consistently voted against reducing central government funding of local government Show votes
3 votes against, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted against greater restrictions on campaigning by third parties, such as charities, during elections Show votes
11 votes against, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted against local councils keeping money raised from taxes on business premises in their areas Show votes
2 votes against, 2 absences, between 2012 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Generally voted for more powers for local councils Show votes
6 votes for, 2 votes against, 9 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted against fixed periods between parliamentary elections Show votes
1 vote against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Generally voted against transferring more powers to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament Show votes
1 vote against, 8 absences, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Voted a mixture of for and against transferring more powers to the Scottish Parliament Show votes
3 votes for, 4 votes against, 5 absences, between 2011 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
Last updated: 12 Tachwedd 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Douglas Alexander voted on Home Affairs #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Almost always voted for introducing ID cards Show votes
9 votes for, 3 absences, between 2004 and 2006. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Generally voted for allowing ministers to intervene in inquests Show votes
2 votes for, 1 absence, between 2008 and 2009. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Almost always voted for a stricter asylum system Show votes
9 votes for, 4 absences, between 2002 and 2007. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted against the introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners Show votes
3 votes against, 1 absence, between 2010 and 2012. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for requiring the mass retention of information about communications Show votes
4 votes for, between 2009 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted for restricting the right to protest Show votes
2 votes for, between 1998 and 2005. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
Last updated: 17 Ionawr 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Douglas Alexander voted on Welfare, Benefits and Pensions #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Almost always voted against a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes
13 votes against, 5 absences, between 2010 and 2015. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted against reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes
3 votes against, 3 absences, between 2011 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted against.
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Generally voted for paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes
3 votes for, 4 absences, between 2011 and 2012. Comparable Labour MPs almost always voted for.
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Consistently voted for raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices Show votes
5 votes for, in 2013. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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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 Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for increasing the state pension age for women more slowly Show votes
3 votes for, in 2011. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted against increasing the state pension age Show votes
2 votes against, in 2011. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Consistently voted for means-testing/removing universality on winter fuel payments for pensioners Show votes
1 vote for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 10 Medi 2024.
Learn more about our voting records and what they mean.
How Douglas Alexander voted on Environmental Issues #
For votes held while they were in office:
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Consistently voted for new nuclear power Show votes
1 vote for, between 2002 and 2010. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Generally voted for measures to prevent climate change Show votes
5 votes for, 1 vote against, 4 absences, between 2000 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted against lower taxes on fuel for motor vehicles Show votes
4 votes against, 2 absences, between 2010 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted against.
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Generally voted against higher taxes on plane tickets Show votes
5 votes against, 4 absences, between 2012 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted against.
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Voted a mixture of for and against financial incentives for low carbon emission electricity generation methods Show votes
1 vote for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, between 2011 and 2013. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted for greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes
1 vote for, 1 absence, in 2015. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Generally voted for new high speed rail infrastructure Show votes
1 vote for, 4 absences, between 2013 and 2014. Comparable Labour MPs generally voted for.
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Voted a mixture of for and against hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas Show votes
1 vote for, 1 vote against, 1 absence, in 2015. Comparable Labour MPs voted a mixture of for and against.
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Consistently voted for improving environmental water quality Show votes
1 vote for, in 2012. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
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Consistently voted for increasing windfall tax on oil and gas companies Show votes
4 votes for, in 2024. Comparable Labour MPs consistently voted for.
Last updated: 6 Tachwedd 2024.
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
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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
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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
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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.
