Mrs Gillian Shephard MP, South West Norfolk

voted moderately against the policy

Homosexuality - Equal rights

by scoring 34.1% compared to the votes below

Why Majority/minority instead of Aye/No?
HouseDateSubjectMrs Gillian ShephardPolicy vote
Commons22 Jun 1998Crime and Disorder Bill — Reduction of Age of Consent for Homosexual Acts to 16 minorityMajority (strong)
Commons25 Jan 1999Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill — Second Reading minorityMajority
Commons10 Feb 1999Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill — Clause 1 — Age of Consent for Homosexual Acts minorityMajority
Commons1 Mar 1999Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill — Third Reading minorityMajority
Commons10 Feb 2000Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill minorityMajority
Commons5 Jul 2000Local Government Bill [Lords] - Prohibition on promotion of homosexuality: bullying minorityMajority
HouseDateSubjectMrs Gillian ShephardPolicy vote
Commons24 Oct 2001Relationships (Civil Registration) absentMajority
Commons29 Oct 2001Adoption and Children Bill (Programme) — Consideration and Third Reading absentMajority
Commons16 May 2002Adoption and Children Bill — [2nd Allotted Day] — Applications for adoption minorityMajority
Commons20 May 2002Adoption and Children Bill — [3rd Allotted Day] — Clause 131 — General interpretation, etc. minorityMajority
Commons4 Nov 2002Adoption and Children Bill — Suitability Of Adopters minorityMajority (strong)
Commons10 Mar 2003Local Government Bill — New Clause 11 — Repeal of Section 2A of Local Government Act 1986 minorityMajority
Commons10 Mar 2003Local Government Bill — Maintain Prohibition on Promotion of Homosexuality (Section 28) absentMajority (strong)
Commons25 May 2004Gender Recognition Bill — Allow Marriages to Remain Valid If They Become a Same Sex Marriage absentminority (strong)
Commons12 Oct 2004Civil Partnership Bill [Lords] MajorityMajority (strong)
Commons9 Nov 2004Categories of civil partners other than same sex couples MajorityMajority
Commons9 Nov 2004Civil Partnerships Bill [Lords] — Third Reading absentMajority
HouseDateSubjectBaroness Shephard of NorthwoldPolicy vote
Lords9 Jan 2007Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 absentMajority
Lords21 Mar 2007Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 absentMajority (strong)
Lords21 Jan 2008Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [HL] — need for a father 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 policy20100
MP absent375150
Less important votes (10 points)   
MP voted with policy11010
MP voted against policy9090
Less important absentees (2 points)   
MP absent*448
Total:139408

*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
 = 
139
408
 = 34.1 %.


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