David Howarth MP, Cambridge

voted strongly for the policy

Openness and Transparency - In Favour

by scoring 88.9% compared to the votes below

Why Majority/minority instead of Aye/No?
HouseDateSubjectDavid HowarthPolicy vote
Commons20 Apr 2007Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — Keep disclosure for MPs' expenses — rejected tellayeminority (strong)
Commons20 Apr 2007Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — Exempt only correspondence — rejected tellayeminority (strong)
Commons18 May 2007Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — Continue to disclose MPs' correspondence — rejected tellayeminority (strong)
Commons18 May 2007Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — Exempt constituents' letters only — rejected minorityminority (strong)
Commons18 May 2007Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — Third Reading minorityminority (strong)
Commons3 Jul 2008MPs' allowances — External audits and no more furniture — rejected minorityMajority (strong)
Commons2 Mar 2009Political Parties and Elections Bill — Parliamentary candidates can keep their home addresses secret minorityminority (strong)
Commons30 Apr 2009MPs' financial interests — Full and complete registration MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons30 Apr 2009MPs' expenses — No lower limit for declaration 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 policy8400400
MP voted against policy1050
MP absent000
Less important votes (10 points)   
MP voted with policy000
MP voted against policy000
Less important absentees (2 points)   
MP absent*000
Total:400450

*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
 = 
400
450
 = 88.9 %.


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