MP for Faversham and Mid Kent
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
“A high-attendance, party-loyal Conservative MP with ministerial experience, now leading the opposition’s Work and Pensions brief.”
Helen Whately is a Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, first elected in 2015. She has held ministerial positions in health and in the Treasury, and from November 2024 has served as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Throughout her Parliament career she has also chaired committees and served in the government’s health and digital portfolios.
She shows near-total party loyalty (100% vs party average 99%) and good attendance (81% vs 56%), with a small number of rebel votes (3). Her record generally favours immigration controls and a tougher asylum system, including support for the Rwanda deportation scheme, while opposing some bus services regulation. Her voting on welfare and health measures is mixed, with votes on Universal Credit, NHS funding and VAT showing varying positions, and a nuanced stance on transgender rights.
Declared financial interests include seven entries for donations and other support for activities as an MP, plus one entry for gifts or benefits from UK sources, 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
Conservative average: 56%
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
Conservative average: 99%
Estimated from voting record, not self-declared. This is a simplified model — real politics is more complex than a single axis.
13 positions
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Since Nov 2024
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Jul 2024 - Nov 2024
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Oct 2022 - Jul 2024
Health and Social Care Committee
Oct 2022 - Nov 2022
Finance (No.2) Bill
Dec 2021 - Jan 2022
Public Accounts Committee
Nov 2021 - Oct 2022
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Sept 2021 - Jul 2022
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.
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
AYESteel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
King's Speech Motion for an Address
NOKing's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (p)
AYEKing's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (l)
NOKing's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (o)
AYEKing's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (i)
AYEPension Schemes Bill: Government Motion relating to Lords Reason 88X
NOCollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
Privilege
AYENorthern Ireland Troubles Bill: Carry-over (Motion)
NONorthern Ireland Troubles Bill
Pension Schemes Bill: Motion relating to Lords Reason 88Q
NOCollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Motion relating to Lords Amendments 85, 86, 97 to 116, 120, 121 and 123 etc
NOEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Motion relating to Lords Amendments 94B and 94C
NOEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Motion relating to Lords Amendments 36, 90 and 155
NOEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Motion to disagree with Lords Amendments 89B and 89C
NOEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Crime and Policing Bill: Government motion in relation to LA439
NOCrime and Policing 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.
