David Heath MP, Somerton and Frome

voted strongly for the policy

Reduce Spending on Welfare Benefits

by scoring 92.1% compared to the votes below

Why Majority/minority instead of Aye/No?
HouseDateSubjectDavid HeathPolicy vote
Commons9 Nov 2010Housing Benefit MajorityMajority
Commons19 Jan 2011Opposition Day — Education Maintenance Allowance MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons19 Jan 2011Opposition Day — Education Maintenance Allowance MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons9 Mar 2011Welfare Reform Bill — Decline Second Reading MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons9 Mar 2011Welfare Reform Bill — Second Reading MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons13 Jun 2011Welfare Reform Bill — New Clause 2 — Childcare Element in Universal Credit MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons13 Jun 2011Welfare Reform Bill — Clause 5 — Exclusion of Up to Fifty Thousand Pounds in an ISA from Capital Used to Determine Universal Credit Eligibility MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons15 Jun 2011Welfare Reform Bill — Third Reading MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons31 Jan 2012Local Government Finance Bill — Clause 8 — Move from Council Tax Benefit to Council Tax Reduction Schemes MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons1 Feb 2012Welfare Reform Bill — Clause 51 — Employment and Support Allowance for Those Ill or Disabled Since Their Youth MajorityMajority
Commons1 Feb 2012Welfare Reform Bill — Clause 51 — Period of Entitlement to Contributory Employment and Support Allowance MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons1 Feb 2012Welfare Reform Bill — Clause 51 — Employment and Support Allowance for Those With Cancer MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons1 Feb 2012Welfare Reform Bill — Clause 93 — Exclusion of Child Benefit from Benefit Cap MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons1 Feb 2012Welfare Reform Bill — Clause 10 — Universal Credit Payments In Relation to Disabled Children and Young People MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons1 Feb 2012Welfare Reform Bill — Clause 11 — Housing costs MajorityMajority
Commons21 Feb 2012Welfare Reform Bill — Clause 11 — Housing costs — Exemptions from Benefit Reductions Due to Excess Bedrooms MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons24 Oct 2012Draft Housing Benefit (Amendment) Regulations 2012 — Under Occupation Critera — Local Housing Allowance Rates absentMajority (strong)
Commons21 Nov 2012Draft Benefit Cap (Housing Benefit) Regulations 2012 — Individual Benefits Cap absentMajority (strong)
Commons8 Jan 2013Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill — Decline Second Reading — Capping Increase of Specified Benefits at 1% MajorityMajority
Commons8 Jan 2013Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill — Second Reading — Capping Increase of Specified Benefits at 1% MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons21 Jan 2013Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill — Clause 1 — Rate of Increase of Certain Benefits, Payments and Tax Credits MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons21 Jan 2013Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill — Clauses 1 to 3 and Schedule — Capping Increase of Specified Benefits at 1% MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons21 Jan 2013Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill — Third Reading — Capping Increase of Specified Benefits at 1% MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons27 Feb 2013Opposition Day — Housing Benefit (Under-occupancy Penalty) absentMajority (strong)
Commons12 Nov 2013Opposition Day — Housing Benefit — Deductions for those deemed to have excess bedrooms MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons12 Nov 2013Opposition Day — Housing Benefit — Deductions for Those Deemed to Have Excess Bedrooms MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons17 Jan 2014Benefit Entitlement (Restriction) Bill absentminority (strong)
Commons11 Feb 2014Opposition Day — Halt Further Spending and Welfare Cuts and Investigation Impact of Austerity Measures MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons25 Mar 2014March 2014 Budget MajorityMajority
Commons26 Mar 2014Welfare Cap — Charter for Budget Responsibility MajorityMajority
Commons13 Jan 2015Charter for Budget Responsibility: Autumn Statement 2014 Update MajorityMajority

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 absent4100200
Less important votes (10 points)   
MP voted with policy77070
MP voted against policy000
Less important absentees (2 points)   
MP absent*000
Total:11701270

*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
 = 
1170
1270
 = 92.1 %.


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