MP for South Suffolk
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
“A loyal Conservative MP with high attendance who now leads the opposition on defence.”
James Cartlidge is the Conservative MP for South Suffolk, first elected in 2015. He currently serves as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, a role he took up in 2024 after previously holding ministerial posts in defence and the Treasury. His parliamentary career includes service on several committees and frontbench roles.
Cartlidge votes largely with his party—his party loyalty is 99% and he has an above-average attendance rate of 83%. He has a centre-right stance (56/100). He has a small number of rebel votes (10) across his career. On policy matters, he backs immigration controls and a firm asylum policy, supports the Rwanda deportation scheme, and tends to oppose bus services regulation; his positions on NHS funding, VAT, and transgender rights have been mixed.
Has four declared financial interests, including donations and other support (including loans) linked to his activities as an MP.
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.
10 positions
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Since Jul 2024
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Apr 2023 - Jul 2024
Public Accounts Committee
Nov 2022 - Jun 2023
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Oct 2022 - Apr 2023
Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill
Oct 2022 - Oct 2022
Judicial Review and Courts Bill
Oct 2021 - Nov 2021
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (and Assistant Government Whip)
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.
Railways Bill: Third Reading
NORailways Bill
Railways Bill Remaining Stages: Amendment 148
AYERailways Bill
Railways Bill Remaining Stages: Amendment 143
AYERailways Bill
Draft Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (Amendment) Order 2026
NOSteel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill Committee: New Clause 4
AYESteel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill Committee: New Clause 12
AYESteel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill Committee: Amendment 20
AYESteel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill Committee: New Clause 8
AYESteel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill Committee: Amendment 12
AYESteel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
Draft Agriculture (Delinked Payments) (Reductions) (England) Regulations 2026
NOArmed Forces Bill Committee: New Clause 6
AYEArmed Forces Bill
Armed Forces Bill Committee: New Clause 5
AYEArmed Forces Bill
Armed Forces Bill Committee: New Clause 2
AYEArmed Forces Bill
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
AYESteel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
King's Speech Motion for an Address
NOThe 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.
