MP for Makerfield
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
“A party-loyal MP with zero rebel votes and notably low voting attendance, who has held science and technology and Cabinet Office roles.”
Josh Simons is Labour (Co-op) MP for Makerfield, elected on 4 July 2024. He sits on the Courts (Remote Hearings) Bill committee and has held government roles in science, innovation and technology, and in the Cabinet Office, including brief ministerial posts in early 2026. He began his parliamentary career in 2024 and has since combined committee work with ministerial experience.
He votes almost always with his party (100% loyalty) and has a notably low attendance rate of 13%. He sits centre-left on the political spectrum (34/100). On key policy votes he generally backs Universal Credit, workers’ rights protections and trade union powers, while taking mixed or opposing stances on bus services regulation, VAT, transgender rights, protest rights, mental health services and prison sentencing, and he has supported renter protections.
He has declared 13 financial interests in four categories: five entries for donations and other support (including loans) for MP activities, five entries for gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources, two miscellaneous entries, and one shareholding.
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: 34%
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.
4 positions
Courts (Remote Hearings) Bill
Since Jun 2025
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Jan 2026 - Feb 2026
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Sept 2025 - Feb 2026
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Oct 2024 - Dec 2024
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.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Government role · 9 Jan 2026
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Government role · 7 Sept 2025
Courts (Remote Hearings) Bill
Parliamentary role · 26 Jun 2025
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Parliamentary role · 21 Oct 2024
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.
