MP for Faversham and Mid Kent
Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
“A highly loyal Conservative MP with a centrist tilt and occasional independent votes.”
Helen Whately is a Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, first elected in 2015. She currently serves as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, following a ministerial career in health and the Treasury and various parliamentary roles on select committees.
She has 100% party loyalty and 81% attendance, with three rebel votes. Her voting record shows a mix of positions: she generally supports immigration controls and the asylum system, and back the Rwanda deportation scheme, while votes on NHS funding, VAT changes, and bus services regulation are more variable.
Declares seven financial interests, including five entries for donations or other support for activities as an MP, one entry for gifts/benefits/hospitality from UK sources, and one miscellaneous item.
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.
Opposition Day Motion: Defence
AYEOpposition Day Motion: Oil and Gas
AYENational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 6
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 5
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 3
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 2
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
Opposition day motion: student loans
AYEOpposition day motion: fuel duty
AYEDraft Employment Rights Act 2025 (Investigatory Powers) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
NOCourts and Tribunals Bill: Second Reading
NOCourts and Tribunals Bill
Courts and Tribunals Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
AYECourts and Tribunals Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 106
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 102
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 44
NOChildren’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.