MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy
“Mostly a party loyal backbencher, she has unusually low voting attendance and has rebelled on end-of-life legislation.”
Melanie Ward is a Labour (Co-operative) MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, elected in 2024. She currently serves on the Courts and Tribunals Bill committee (since March 2026) and on the Ecclesiastical Committee (since April 2025). The data provided does not include details of her career prior to Parliament.
Her voting record shows near total party loyalty (98%) but unusually low attendance (13%), with five rebel votes on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in June 2025; her positioning is centre-left (40/100). On policy topics, she generally supports workers' rights protections, trade union powers, renters protections and climate measures, while frequently opposing mental health services and transgender rights; her votes on Universal Credit and prison sentencing are mixed.
Declared financial interests include four visits outside the UK and two entries for gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources.
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: 33%
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.
2 positions
Courts and Tribunals Bill
Since Mar 2026
Ecclesiastical Committee
Since Apr 2025
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.
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion relating to Lords Amendment 106
AYEChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools: motion relating to Lords Amendment 102
AYEChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 41B
AYEChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion relating to Lords Amendment 38
AYEChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Pension Schemes Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 78
AYECollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
Pension Schemes Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 77
AYECollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
Pension Schemes Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 43
AYECollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
Pension Schemes Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 35
AYECollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
Pension Schemes Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 26
AYECollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
Pension Schemes Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 15
AYECollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
Pensions Scheme Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 5
AYEPension Schemes Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1
AYECollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 6
AYEVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 5
AYEVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 4
AYEVictims and Courts 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.
