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James Cartlidge
MP for South Suffolk
ConservativeOpposition
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
About This MP
AI-generatedJames Cartlidge is the Conservative MP for South Suffolk, first elected in 2015. He has held ministerial roles including Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence and Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, and since July 2024 serves as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence. He has also served on several parliamentary committees during his time in Parliament.
Voting Patterns
Cartlidge shows very high party loyalty (99%) and good attendance (84%), and sits on the centre-right (57/100). He generally votes for stricter immigration controls and an asylum system, and has backed the Rwanda deportation scheme. His voting on welfare, NHS funding and other domestic issues is mixed, with a number of votes either for or against depending on the topic, and he has recorded 10 rebel votes against his party.
Notable Positions
- Stricter immigration controls and a robust asylum system
- Support for the Rwanda deportation scheme
- Opposes regulation of bus services (prefers less regulation)
- Voted for Nick Boles's Common Market 2.0 in 2019, indicating openness to closer European market arrangements
- Has at times rebelled against his party on specific parliamentary measures (e.g., Public Order Bill amendments and NI Executive Formation Bill New Clauses)
Financial Interests
Declares three financial interests: donations and other support (including loans) for activities as an MP.
Generated 21 February 2026
99%
Party Loyalty
84%
Attendance
10
Rebel Votes
—
Total Votes
Political Position
LEFTRIGHT
Centre-right(57)
Based on 414 votesCareer & Roles
10 positions
Current
Opposition
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Since Jul 2024
Previous
Government
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Apr 2023 - Jul 2024
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Nov 2022 - Jun 2023
Government
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Oct 2022 - Apr 2023
Committee
Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
Oct 2022 - Oct 2022
Committee
Judicial Review and Courts Bill
Oct 2021 - Nov 2021
Government
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (and Assistant Government Whip)
Sept 2021 - Jul 2022
Voting Stances
Based on parliamentary votes
Universal Credit
Generally againsthas generally voted against universal credit
198 votes
Immigration controls
Generally forhas generally voted for immigration controls
167 votes
Bus services regulation
Generally againsthas generally voted against bus services regulation
110 votes
VAT changes
Generally againsthas generally voted against vat changes
96 votes
Asylum system
Mixedhas voted a mixture of ways on asylum system
75 votes
Transgender rights
Mixedhas voted a mixture of ways on transgender rights
72 votes
Trade union powers
Mixedhas voted a mixture of ways on trade union powers
66 votes
NHS funding
Generally againsthas generally voted against nhs funding
49 votes
Financial Interests
3 declarations · £12,006 total
Recent Rebel Votes
Amendment (f) to the motion on the UK's withdrawal from the European Union
13 Mar 2019
UK's withdrawal from the EU: Prime Minister's motion
14 Mar 2019
Mr Baron's motion B (No deal)
27 Mar 2019
George Eustice's motion H (EFTA and EEA)
27 Mar 2019
Nick Boles's motion D (Common Market 2.0)
1 Apr 2019
Recent Votes
NO
Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2026-27
11 Feb 2026279 Aye90 No
NO
Local Government Finance Report (England) 2026-27
11 Feb 2026277 Aye143 No
NO
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026
11 Feb 2026362 Aye107 No
NO
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Order 2026
4 Feb 2026392 Aye116 No
NO
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Second Reading
3 Feb 2026458 Aye