MP for Houghton and Sunderland South
Minister for Women and Equalities
“A party-loyal Labour MP with a rising government profile in education and equality, notable for strong attendance and only one rebellion.”
Bridget Phillipson is the Labour and Co-operative MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, first elected in 2010. She currently serves as Minister for Women and Equalities and has been Secretary of State for Education since July 2024. Previously she held prominent shadow roles, including Shadow Education Secretary (2021–2024) and Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and she has served on several parliamentary committees.
She shows strong party loyalty and above-average attendance, with only one recorded rebel vote. Her voting record favours welfare expansion and NHS funding (e.g., Universal Credit and NHS funding), while taking a relatively liberal line on immigration and asylum issues. She also supports bus services regulation and has a mixed pattern on VAT, transgender rights, and trade union powers, and she has opposed the Rwanda deportation scheme.
Declares multiple financial interests, including donations and other support related to her work as an MP (12 entries) and one miscellaneous entry.
Generated 21 February 2026
How this MP participates in parliamentary votes. These numbers describe activity, not effectiveness.
How often this MP votes
Labour (Co-op) average: 33%
The percentage of parliamentary votes (divisions) this MP participated in. MPs may miss votes for legitimate reasons including ministerial duties, constituency work, or illness.
How often this MP votes with their party
Labour (Co-op) average: 99%
Estimated from voting record, not self-declared. This is a simplified model — real politics is more complex than a single axis.
18 positions
Minister for Women and Equalities
Since Jul 2024
Secretary of State for Education
Since Jul 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Education
Nov 2021 - May 2024
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Apr 2020 - Nov 2021
Public Accounts Committee
Mar 2020 - Sept 2020
Committee on Standards
Mar 2020 - May 2020
Committee of Privileges
Mar 2020 - May 2020
Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
Jan 2020 - May 2020
Figures include only interests with declared monetary values from the Register of Members' Financial Interests. Some categories (e.g. hospitality, overseas visits) may not have monetary values recorded, so the total may not reflect all declared interests.
Opposition Day Motion: Defence
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 6
AYENational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 5
AYENational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 3
AYENational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
Draft Higher Education (Fee Limits and Fee Limit Condition) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
AYEDraft Employment Rights Act 2025 (Investigatory Powers) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
AYEFinance (No. 2) Bill: Third Reading
AYEFinance (No. 2) Bill
Finance (No. 2) Bill Report Stage: New Clause 11
NOFinance (No. 2) Bill
Courts and Tribunals Bill: Second Reading
AYECourts and Tribunals Bill
Courts and Tribunals Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
NOCourts and Tribunals Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 106
AYEChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 102
AYEChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 44
AYEChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 41
AYEChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 38
AYEChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
The percentage of votes where this MP voted the same way as the majority of their party. High loyalty is typical; most MPs vote with their party on most issues.
Rebel votes
Times this MP voted differently from the majority of their party. This can reflect independent judgement, but context matters — some rebel votes are on procedural matters, others on major policy.
