Comparison of Divisions: Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 — Renewal of indefinite detention — 3 Mar 2004 at 19:50 with Division No. 76 on 21 Nov 2001 at 20:45
(Swap the two divisions around).
The majority of MPs voted in favour of the continued power of sections 21 to 23 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (Part 4).[1][2]
The MPs who voted against the original law, voted in favour of renewing it. In particular, the vast majority of members of the Conservative Party who abstained on the original law chose to renew it.[3]
Without this motion, the powers of the Home Secretary to certify a foreign national as a suspected terrorist and detain him indefinitely would have expired under a sunset clause in the Act.[4]
The first renewal of this section had been debated and passed without a vote.[5]
This was the second time these powers were renewed by Parliament. The Home Secretary had presented his case for it in a Ministerial Statement.[6] The Joint Committee On Human Rights presented the detailed opposition to the provisions a month later,[7] but they were finally declared unconstitutional at the end of the year partly on the basis that there was no "public emergency threatening the life of the nation" which would be necessary to justify this detainment regime.[8]
A recent list of of statutory instruments relating to terrorism that are renewed by Parliament is here.
The majority of MPs voted in favour of setting up a scheme which allowed for the indefinite detention without charge of a "suspected international terrorist".[1][2]
(This vote followed one which set up a scheme whereby the Home Secretary could issue a certificate that someone is an international terrorist.)[3]
Specifically, these powers were exercised under the laws enabling the arrest and detention of non-UK citizens pending deportation[4] despite the fact that removal or departure from the United Kingdom is prevented by international law (eg they would be tortured or killed in the country they were sent to).
In practice up to 20 suspects were held in secret in Belmarsh without access to the evidence against them.[5]
As this breached the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Kingdom applied a derogation by declaring that there was a public emergency threatening the existence of the nation.[6] This declaration was approved by a vote of MPs two days later.[7]
Owing to a Sunset Clause in the Act, these powers had to be renewed approximately annually until 2006.[8]
The 2003 renewal by Parliament followed a debate without a vote.[8] The 2004 renewal of the powers was voted on without a debate.[9]
In December 2004 the Law Lords ruled that the application of these laws violated the Human Rights Act because it discriminated against non-citizens (UK citizens could just as well be terrorists, but would not be subject to this law) and that there was in fact no evident threat to the life of the nation. Furthermore, they added that such a threat -- in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws and political values -- "comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these."[10]
The state of public emergency was accordingly lifted in 2005,[11] and the suspects were released to serve under a regime of Control orders.
Public Whip is run as a free not-for-profit service. If you'd like to support us, please
consider switching your (UK) electricity and/or gas to
Octopus Energy or
tip us via Ko-Fi.
MPs for which their vote on Motion (a) differed from their vote on Motion (b).
You can also see just opposite votes
between these two divisions,
or simply all the votes.
Sort by: Name | Constituency | Party | Vote (a) | Vote (b)
Name | Constituency | Party | Vote (a) | Vote (b) |
Gerald Howarth | Aldershot | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Richard Shepherd | Aldridge-Brownhills | Con (front bench) | absent |
no |
Graham Brady | Altrincham and Sale West | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Damian Green | Ashford | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
David Lidington | Aylesbury | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Sandra Osborne | Ayr | Lab | absent |
aye |
Tony Baldry | Banbury | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Margaret Hodge | Barking | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Michael Clapham | Barnsley West and Penistone | Lab | aye |
absent |
Angela Smith | Basildon | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mike Wood | Batley and Spen | Lab | absent |
aye |
Dominic Grieve | Beaconsfield | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Jacqui Lait | Beckenham | Con | aye |
absent |
Martin Smyth | Belfast South | whilst UUP | aye |
absent |
Martin Smyth | Belfast South | whilst UUP | absent |
aye |
Gregory Barker | Bexhill and Battle | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mr Nigel Beard | Bexleyheath and Crayford | Lab | aye |
absent |
John Baron | Billericay | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Siôn Simon | Birmingham, Erdington | Lab | absent |
aye |
Lynne Jones | Birmingham, Selly Oak | Lab | aye |
absent |
Ms Estelle Morris | Birmingham, Yardley | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mr Derek Foster | Bishop Auckland | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Nick Gibb | Bognor Regis and Littlehampton | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Dennis Skinner | Bolsover | Lab (minister) | aye |
no |
Ruth Kelly | Bolton West | Lab (minister) | aye |
absent |
Joe Benton | Bootle | Lab (minister) | aye |
absent |
Mark Simmonds | Boston and Skegness | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
David Tredinnick | Bosworth | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Andrew MacKay | Bracknell | Con | aye |
absent |
Terry Rooney | Bradford North | Lab | absent |
aye |
Gerry Sutcliffe | Bradford South | Lab (minister) | aye |
absent |
Marsha Singh | Bradford West | Lab | aye |
absent |
Mr Alan Hurst | Braintree | Lab | absent |
aye |
Roger Williams | Brecon and Radnorshire | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Sarah Teather | Brent East | LDem (front bench) | no |
absent |
Mr Paul Boateng | Brent South | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Ann Keen | Brentford and Isleworth | Lab | absent |
aye |
Doug Naysmith | Bristol North West | Lab | absent |
aye |
Dawn Primarolo | Bristol South | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Julie Kirkbride | Bromsgrove | Con | aye |
absent |
Nick Palmer | Broxtowe | Lab | absent |
aye |
John Bercow | Buckingham | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Wayne David | Caerphilly | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
John Thurso | Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Harriet Harman | Camberwell and Peckham | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Julian Brazier | Canterbury | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Julie Morgan | Cardiff North | Lab | aye |
absent |
Bob Spink | Castle Point | Con | aye |
absent |
Jonathan R Shaw | Chatham and Aylesford | Lab | absent |
aye |
Patsy Calton | Cheadle | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Dame Cheryl Gillan | Chesham and Amersham | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Sir Sydney Chapman | Chipping Barnet | Con | aye |
absent |
Lindsay Hoyle | Chorley | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mark Field | Cities of London and Westminster | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Jimmy Hood | Clydesdale | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Kali Mountford | Colne Valley | Lab | aye |
absent |
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown | Cotswold | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Geoffrey Robinson | Coventry North West | Lab | absent |
aye |
Geraint Davies | Croydon Central | Lab | absent |
aye |
Richard Ottaway | Croydon South | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mr Brian Wilson | Cunninghame North | Lab | absent |
aye |
Ann Clwyd | Cynon Valley | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Alan Milburn | Darlington | Lab | aye |
absent |
Tim Boswell | Daventry | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mr Andrew Bennett | Denton and Reddish | Lab | absent |
no |
Michael Ancram | Devizes | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mrs Ann Taylor | Dewsbury | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Rosie Winterton | Doncaster Central | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mr Kevin Hughes | Doncaster North | Lab | absent |
aye |
Ian Pearson | Dudley South | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Tessa Jowell | Dulwich and West Norwood | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
John McFall | Dumbarton | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mr Roy Beggs | East Antrim | UUP | aye |
absent |
Hugo Swire | East Devon | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Michael Mates | East Hampshire | Con | aye |
absent |
Adam Ingram | East Kilbride | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Gregory Campbell | East Londonderry | DUP (front bench) | absent |
aye |
Jim Murphy | East Renfrewshire | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Peter Ainsworth | East Surrey | Con | aye |
absent |
Tim Loughton | East Worthing and Shoreham | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Greg Knight | East Yorkshire | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Nigel Waterson | Eastbourne | Con | aye |
absent |
Mr David Chidgey | Eastleigh | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Stephen O'Brien | Eddisbury | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Alistair Darling | Edinburgh Central | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mark Lazarowicz | Edinburgh North and Leith | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Dr Lynda Clark | Edinburgh Pentlands | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Nigel Griffiths | Edinburgh South | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
John Barrett | Edinburgh West | LDem (front bench) | no |
absent |
Eleanor Laing | Epping Forest | Con | aye |
absent |
Chris Grayling | Epsom and Ewell | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
John Austin | Erith and Thamesmead | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mark Hoban | Fareham | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Rudi Vis | Finchley and Golders Green | Lab | aye |
absent |
Michael Howard | Folkestone and Hythe | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Michael Jack | Fylde | Con | aye |
absent |
Mr Peter Duncan | Galloway and Upper Nithsdale | Con | aye |
absent |
John Robertson | Glasgow Anniesland | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mr Jimmy Wray | Glasgow Baillieston | Lab | absent |
no |
George Galloway | Glasgow Kelvin | whilst Lab | absent |
no |
Ian Davidson | Glasgow Pollok | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Malcolm Bruce | Gordon | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Quentin Davies | Grantham and Stamford | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Austin Mitchell | Great Grimsby | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Anthony D Wright | Great Yarmouth | Lab | absent |
aye |
David Cairns | Greenock and Inverclyde | Lab | aye |
absent |
Nick Raynsford | Greenwich and Woolwich | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Ms Sue Doughty | Guildford | LDem (front bench) | no |
absent |
Diane Abbott | Hackney North and Stoke Newington | Lab | aye |
absent |
Mr Brian Sedgemore | Hackney South and Shoreditch | Lab | absent |
no |
Mrs Alice Mahon | Halifax | Lab | aye |
absent |
John Reid | Hamilton North and Bellshill | Lab (minister) | aye |
absent |
Mr Bill Tynan | Hamilton South | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mr Iain Coleman | Hammersmith and Fulham | Lab | absent |
aye |
Glenda Jackson | Hampstead and Highgate | Lab | absent |
aye |
Edward Garnier | Harborough | Con | aye |
absent |
Bill Rammell | Harlow | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Phil Willis | Harrogate and Knaresborough | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Tony McNulty | Harrow East | Lab (minister) | absent |
tellaye |
Mr Peter Mandelson | Hartlepool | Lab | absent |
aye |
Michael Jabez Foster | Hastings and Rye | Lab | absent |
aye |
David Willetts | Havant | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
John Martin McDonnell | Hayes and Harlington | Lab | absent |
no |
Boris Johnson | Henley | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Paul Keetch | Hereford | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
James Clappison | Hertsmere | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Peter Atkinson | Hexham | Con | aye |
absent |
Tom Levitt | High Peak | Lab | absent |
aye |
Frank Dobson | Holborn and St Pancras | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mrs Barbara Roche | Hornsey and Wood Green | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mr Ivor Caplin | Hove | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Jonathan Djanogly | Huntingdon | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Greg Pope | Hyndburn | Lab | absent |
aye |
Chris Mole | Ipswich | Lab | aye |
absent |
Jeremy Corbyn | Islington North | Lab | absent |
tellno |
Mr Chris Smith | Islington South and Finsbury | Lab | absent |
aye |
Stephen Hepburn | Jarrow | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mr Michael Portillo | Kensington and Chelsea | Con | aye |
absent |
Dr Lewis Moonie | Kirkcaldy | Lab | absent |
aye |
Edward O'Hara | Knowsley South | Lab | absent |
aye |
Jeffrey M. Donaldson | Lagan Valley | whilst DUP (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mr Hilton Dawson | Lancaster and Wyre | Lab | absent |
aye |
George Mudie | Leeds East | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mr Harold Best | Leeds North West | Lab | absent |
aye |
John Battle | Leeds West | Lab | absent |
aye |
Keith Vaz | Leicester East | Lab | aye |
absent |
Dr Jim Marshall | Leicester South | Lab | aye |
no |
Bill Wiggin | Leominster | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Harry Cohen | Leyton and Wanstead | Lab | absent |
aye |
Michael Fabricant | Lichfield | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mr Tam Dalyell | Linlithgow | Lab | aye |
no |
Maria Eagle | Liverpool, Garston | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Peter Kilfoyle | Liverpool, Walton | Lab | absent |
aye |
Jane Kennedy | Liverpool, Wavertree | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Robert Wareing | Liverpool, West Derby | Lab | absent |
no |
Robin Cook | Livingston | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mr Denzil Davies | Llanelli | Lab | absent |
aye |
Peter Tapsell | Louth and Horncastle | Con | aye |
absent |
Nicholas Winterton | Macclesfield | Con | aye |
absent |
Theresa May | Maidenhead | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Ian McCartney | Makerfield | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Gerald Kaufman | Manchester, Gorton | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Alan Meale | Mansfield | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Robert Marshall-Andrews | Medway | Lab | absent |
no |
Caroline Spelman | Meriden | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Dai Havard | Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Annette Brooke | Mid Dorset and North Poole | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Keith Simpson | Mid Norfolk | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Stuart Bell | Middlesbrough | Lab (minister) | aye |
absent |
Mr Huw Edwards | Monmouth | Lab | absent |
aye |
Colin Challen | Morley and Rothwell | Lab | aye |
absent |
Mr Calum MacDonald | Na h-Eileanan an Iar | Lab | absent |
aye |
Peter Hain | Neath | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Desmond Swayne | New Forest West | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Patrick Mercer | Newark | Con | aye |
absent |
Jim Cousins | Newcastle upon Tyne Central | Lab | absent |
aye |
Nick Brown | Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend | Lab | absent |
aye |
Doug Henderson | Newcastle upon Tyne North | Lab | absent |
aye |
Ian Paisley | North Antrim | DUP (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Robert Walter | North Dorset | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Alistair Burt | North East Bedfordshire | Con | aye |
absent |
Malcolm Moss | North East Cambridgeshire | Con | aye |
absent |
Menzies Campbell | North East Fife | LDem (front bench) | no |
absent |
James Arbuthnot | North East Hampshire | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Oliver Heald | North East Hertfordshire | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Michael Wills | North Swindon | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mike O'Brien | North Warwickshire | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Dr Brian Mawhinney | North West Cambridgeshire | Con | aye |
absent |
George Young | North West Hampshire | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Henry Bellingham | North West Norfolk | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Sally Keeble | Northampton North | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mr Martin O'Neill | Ochil | Lab (minister) | aye |
absent |
Mr Raymond Powell | Ogmore | Lab | absent |
aye |
Michael Meacher | Oldham West and Royton | Lab | absent |
aye |
John Horam | Orpington | Con | aye |
absent |
Andrew Smith | Oxford East | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Evan Harris | Oxford West and Abingdon | LDem | absent |
no |
Mrs Irene Adams | Paisley North | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Ms Helen Clark | Peterborough | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mr David Jamieson | Plymouth, Devonport | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Kim Howells | Pontypridd | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Robert Syms | Poole | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mike Hancock | Portsmouth South | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Paul Truswell | Pudsey | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mr Tony Colman | Putney | Lab | absent |
aye |
Ms Jane Griffiths | Reading East | Lab | absent |
aye |
Vera Baird | Redcar | Lab | absent |
aye |
Karen Buck | Regent's Park and Kensington North | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Crispin Blunt | Reigate | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Nigel Evans | Ribble Valley | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
William Hague | Richmond (Yorks) | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Andrew Rosindell | Romford | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Janet Anderson | Rossendale and Darwen | Lab | aye |
absent |
Kevin Barron | Rother Valley | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mr Archy Kirkwood | Roxburgh and Berwickshire | LDem (front bench) | no |
absent |
John Greenway | Ryedale | Con | aye |
absent |
Hazel Blears | Salford | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Robert Key | Salisbury | Con | aye |
absent |
Mr Lawrie Quinn | Scarborough and Whitby | Lab | absent |
aye |
Tony Blair | Sedgefield | Lab (minister) | aye |
absent |
Richard Caborn | Sheffield Central | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Clive Betts | Sheffield, Attercliffe | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mrs Helen Jackson | Sheffield, Hillsborough | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mr Paul Marsden | Shrewsbury and Atcham | whilst LDem (front bench) | no |
absent |
David Curry | Skipton and Ripon | Con | aye |
absent |
Douglas Hogg | Sleaford and North Hykeham | Con | absent |
no |
Fiona Mactaggart | Slough | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mr John Taylor | Solihull | Con | aye |
absent |
David Burnside | South Antrim | whilst UUP | aye |
absent |
Andrew Lansley | South Cambridgeshire | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Eddie McGrady | South Down | SDLP | aye |
absent |
James Paice | South East Cambridgeshire | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Richard Bacon | South Norfolk | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Patrick Cormack | South Staffordshire | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Tim Yeo | South Suffolk | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Ms Julia Drown | South Swindon | Lab | aye |
absent |
Andrew Selous | South West Bedfordshire | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Gary Streeter | South West Devon | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mrs Gillian Shephard | South West Norfolk | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
John Denham | Southampton, Itchen | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
David Wilshire | Spelthorne | Con | aye |
absent |
James Purnell | Stalybridge and Hyde | Lab | absent |
aye |
Frank Cook | Stockton North | Lab | aye |
absent |
Dari Taylor | Stockton South | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mark Fisher | Stoke-on-Trent Central | Lab | absent |
no |
Bill Cash | Stone | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Ms Debra Shipley | Stourbridge | Lab | absent |
aye |
Keith Hill | Streatham | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
David Drew | Stroud | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
John Gummer | Suffolk Coastal | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Bill Etherington | Sunderland North | Lab | absent |
aye |
Chris Mullin | Sunderland South | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Mr Nick Hawkins | Surrey Heath | Con | aye |
absent |
Alan Williams | Swansea West | Lab | absent |
aye |
George Osborne | Tatton | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mr Adrian Flook | Taunton | Con | aye |
absent |
Laurence Robertson | Tewkesbury | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mr John Burnett | Torridge and West Devon | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
David Lammy | Tottenham | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Matthew Taylor | Truro and St Austell | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Mr Archie Norman | Tunbridge Wells | Con | aye |
absent |
Vincent Cable | Twickenham | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Alan Campbell | Tynemouth | Lab | absent |
aye |
Angela Watkinson | Upminster | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Rt Hon David Trimble | Upper Bann | UUP (front bench) | aye |
absent |
John Randall | Uxbridge | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
John Smith | Vale of Glamorgan | Lab | absent |
aye |
Anne McIntosh | Vale of York | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mr David Hinchliffe | Wakefield | Lab | aye |
absent |
Angela Eagle | Wallasey | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
David Winnick | Walsall North | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Dan Norris | Wansdyke | Lab | aye |
absent |
Helen Southworth | Warrington South | Lab | absent |
aye |
Charles Hendry | Wealden | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
David Heathcoat-Amory | Wells | Con | aye |
absent |
Miss Melanie Johnson | Welwyn Hatfield | Lab (minister) | aye |
absent |
John Healey | Wentworth | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Robert Smith | West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Simon Burns | West Chelmsford | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Patrick McLoughlin | West Derbyshire | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Oliver Letwin | West Dorset | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mr Tony Banks | West Ham | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Richard Spring | West Suffolk | Con | aye |
absent |
Michael Spicer | West Worcestershire | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Andrew Murrison | Westbury | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Mr Tim Collins | Westmorland and Lonsdale | Con | aye |
absent |
Mr Brian Cotter | Weston-Super-Mare | LDem (front bench) | absent |
no |
Mr Roger Casale | Wimbledon | Lab | aye |
absent |
Mr Michael Trend | Windsor | Con | aye |
absent |
Ben Chapman | Wirral South | Lab | absent |
aye |
David Cameron | Witney | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
John Redwood | Wokingham | Con | aye |
absent |
Mr Dennis Turner | Wolverhampton South East | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Rob Marris | Wolverhampton South West | Lab (minister) | absent |
aye |
Michael Foster | Worcester | Lab | absent |
aye |
Mr Terry Lewis | Worsley | Lab | aye |
absent |
Peter Bottomley | Worthing West | Con (front bench) | aye |
absent |
Paul Goodman | Wycombe | Con | aye |
absent |
The measure of similarity between these two divisions is a calculation
based on a comparison of their votes.
There were
659 MPs who could have voted in both of these divisions,
and 270 voted the same way, with 3 voting in opposite ways.
There were 94 MPs who didn't vote in either division,
and 292 who voted in only one of them.
We invert the vote on the second division if it makes the distance closer (since the meaning of
'Aye' and 'No' are often interchangeable depending on how the question was put).
In this case, they line up the same way.
An 's vote in in only one of the divisions contributes a factor of 0.2 to the distance.
The calculation runs as follows:
ratio =
[same-votes]
([same-votes] + [differing-votes] + 0.2x[abstain-in-one])
=
270
(270 + 3 + 0.2x292)
=
270
331.4
=
0.815
=
81.5 %.