Ben Howlett MP, Bath

voted strongly for the policy

Reduce Spending on Welfare Benefits

by scoring 99.9% compared to the votes below

Why Majority/minority instead of Aye/No?
HouseDateSubjectBen HowlettPolicy vote
Commons4 Jun 2015Queen's Speech — Spending Cuts, Welfare Changes and Trident MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons14 Jul 2015Summer Budget 2015 MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons20 Jul 2015Welfare Reform and Work Bill — Decline Second Reading MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons20 Jul 2015Welfare Reform and Work Bill — Second Reading MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons15 Sep 2015Tax Credits (Income Thresholds and Determination of Rates) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 — Reduction in Rates of Tax Credits MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons14 Oct 2015Charter for Budget Responsibility — Aiming for Budget Surplus — Cap on Welfare Spending MajorityMajority
Commons20 Oct 2015Opposition Day — Tax Credits MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons27 Oct 2015Welfare Reform and Work Bill — New Clause 1 — Repeal of Tax Credits Regulations 2015 MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons27 Oct 2015Welfare Reform and Work Bill — New Clause 8 — Tax Credit Reductions — Transitional Protection MajorityMajority
Commons27 Oct 2015Welfare Reform and Work Bill — Clause 13 — Employment and Support Allowance: Work-Related Activity Component MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons27 Oct 2015Welfare Reform and Work Bill — Clause 14 — Universal Credit: Limited Capability for Work Element MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons27 Oct 2015Welfare Reform and Work Bill — Third Reading MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons18 Nov 2015Opposition Day — The Economy — Tax Credits — Investment in Science, Technology and Green Jobs MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons6 Jan 2016Opposition Day — Universal Credit Work Allowance — Decision to Cut MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons27 Jan 2016Opposition Day — Application of Housing Benefit Cuts to Supported Housing absentMajority
Commons23 Feb 2016Welfare Reform and Work Bill — Clause 13 — Employment and Support Allowance: Work-Related Activity Component MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons23 Feb 2016Welfare Reform and Work Bill — Clause 14 — Universal Credit: Limited Capability for Work Element MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons2 Mar 2016Welfare Reform and Work Bill — Removal of Work Related Activity Component from Employment and Support Allowance — Impact Assessment and Parliamentary Approval of Implementation MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons2 Mar 2016Welfare Reform and Work Bill — Removal of Limited Capability for Work Component from Universal Credit — Impact Assessment and Parliamentary Approval of Implementation MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons26 May 2016Queen's Speech — Human Rights — Steel Industry — Budget Setting Principle MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons8 Jun 2016Benefit Cuts for Disabled and Ill People Required to Participate in Activities Intended to Increase Their Chances of Obtaining Work MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons20 Jul 2016Housing Benefit Cuts — Supported Housing MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons20 Jul 2016Charter for Budget Responsibility — Reducing Public Borrowing — Cap on Welfare Spending MajorityMajority
Commons16 Nov 2016Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance — Analysis of Impact of Changes on Those with Different Incomes MajorityMajority (strong)

How the number is calculated

The MP's votes count towards a weighted average where the most important votes get 50 points, less important votes get 10 points, and less important votes for which the MP was absent get 2 points. In important votes the MP gets awarded the full 50 points for voting the same as the policy, no points for voting against the policy, and 25 points for not voting. In less important votes, the MP gets 10 points for voting with the policy, no points for voting against, and 1 (out of 2) if absent.

Questions about this formula can be discussed on the forum.

No of votesPointsOut of
Most important votes (50 points)   
MP voted with policy2010001000
MP voted against policy000
MP absent000
Less important votes (10 points)   
MP voted with policy33030
MP voted against policy000
Less important absentees (2 points)   
MP absent*112
Total:10311032

*Pressure of other work means MPs or Lords are not always available to vote – it does not always indicate they have abstained. Therefore, being absent on a less important vote makes a disproportionatly small difference.

agreement score
MP's points
total points
 = 
1031
1032
 = 99.9 %.


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