Robin Cook MP, Livingston

voted ambiguously on the policy

University education fees - Should be free

by scoring 46.2% compared to the votes below

Why Majority/minority instead of Aye/No?
HouseDateSubjectRobin CookPolicy vote
Commons27 Jan 2004Higher Education Bill — Second Reading — Increase in University Tuition Fees absentminority (strong)
Commons31 Mar 2004Higher Education Bill — New Clause 5 — Abolition of tuition fees chargeable to qualifying student MajorityMajority
Commons31 Mar 2004Higher Education Bill — New Clause 5 — Abolition of tuition fees chargeable to qualifying student absentminority
Commons31 Mar 2004Higher Education Bill — Third Reading absentminority (strong)
Commons23 Jun 2004Higher Education Bill — Clause 27 — Sections 22 to 26: supplementary provisions Majorityminority
Commons19 Jul 2004The Student Fees (Amounts) (England) Regulations 2004 Majorityminority

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 policy000
MP voted against policy000
MP absent250100
Less important votes (10 points)   
MP voted with policy11010
MP voted against policy2020
Less important absentees (2 points)   
MP absent*112
Total:61132

*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
 = 
61
132
 = 46.2 %.


About the Project

The Public Whip is a not-for-profit, open source website created in 2003 by Francis Irving and Julian Todd and now run by Bairwell Ltd.

The Whip on the Web

Help keep PublicWhip alive