MP for South Suffolk
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
“A loyal Conservative MP with defence and economic experience who now leads the opposition's defence brief.”
James Cartlidge is the Conservative MP for South Suffolk, first elected in 2015. He has held ministerial roles including Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence (2023–2024) and Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (2022–2023). Since July 2024 he has served as the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence.
He is highly party loyal (99%) and attends the vast majority of votes (84%), with 10 rebel votes. His voting record places him on a centre-right spectrum (57/100). On policy, he generally backs stricter immigration controls and an active asylum system, and he has supported the Rwanda deportation scheme. He has a mixed voting pattern on Universal Credit, VAT changes, transgender rights, trade union powers, NHS funding and prison sentencing, and has occasionally rebelled against party positions on specific measures such as NI legislation amendments and public order issues.
Three declared financial interests relate to donations and other support (including loans) to 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.
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 6
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 5
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 4
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 3
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 2
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1
NOVictims and Courts Bill
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
AYEThe 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.
