David Laws MP, Yeovil

voted strongly against the policy

Asylum System - More strict

by scoring 7.0% compared to the votes below

Why Majority/minority instead of Aye/No?
HouseDateSubjectDavid LawsPolicy vote
Commons11 Jun 2002Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill — Only allow destitute asylum seekers and those under residence restrictions to live in accommodation centres for a maximum of 10 weeks — rejected MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons11 Jun 2002Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill — Do not allow appeals against rejected asylum claims from within the UK if the claim is unfounded minorityMajority (strong)
Commons11 Jun 2002Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill — Allow earlier rights of appeal — rejected minorityMajority
Commons12 Jun 2002Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill — Allow the withdrawal of support from immigrants and asylum seekers in certain circumstances minorityMajority (strong)
Commons12 Jun 2002Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill — Do not penalise those who bring passengers to the UK without the necessary authority — rejected minorityMajority (strong)
Commons12 Jun 2002Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill — Third Reading minorityMajority (strong)
Commons5 Nov 2002Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill — Asylum seekers can be placed in accommodation centres even if there is no local school pace for dependent children minorityMajority
Commons5 Nov 2002Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill — Refuse support to asylum seekers who make a late claim minorityMajority
Commons17 Mar 2003Asylum (Designated States) Order 2003 minorityMajority
Commons16 Jul 2003Asylum (Designated States) (No. 2) Order 2003 minorityMajority
Commons17 Dec 2003Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill — Decline to give a Second Reading — rejected minorityMajority (strong)
Commons17 Dec 2003Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Bill — Second Reading minorityMajority (strong)
Commons1 Mar 2004Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, Etc.) Bill — Burden of proof on prosecution rather than defendant in cases where immigrants to not have travel documents — rejected minorityMajority (strong)
Commons1 Mar 2004Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, Etc.) Bill — Give support to failed asylum seekers and their families — rejected minorityMajority (strong)
Commons1 Mar 2004Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, Etc.) Bill — Asylum appeals should be referred to a higher court — rejected minorityMajority (strong)
Commons1 Mar 2004Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, Etc.) Bill — Give support to asylum seekers even when they make a late claim — rejected minorityMajority (strong)
Commons1 Mar 2004Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, Etc.) Bill — Third Reading minorityMajority (strong)
HouseDateSubjectDavid LawsPolicy vote
Commons16 Nov 2005Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill — Excuse employers who employed illegal immigrants but took reasonable steps to comply with the necessary requirements — rejected absentMajority
Commons16 Nov 2005Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill — Prevent the government from interpreting the Geneva Convention so that terrorism can be used as grounds to dismiss asylum claims — rejected minorityMajority
Commons16 Nov 2005Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill — Third Reading minorityMajority (strong)
Commons29 Mar 2006Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill — Allow failed asylum seekers to be given cash rather than vouchers — rejected minorityMajority
Commons25 Jul 2007The Asylum (Designated States) Order 2007 minorityMajority

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 policy15050
MP voted against policy120600
MP absent000
Less important votes (10 points)   
MP voted with policy000
MP voted against policy8080
Less important absentees (2 points)   
MP absent*112
Total:51732

*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
 = 
51
732
 = 7.0 %.


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