MP for Rutherglen
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
“A party-loyal Labour energy minister who rarely rebels and has unusually low voting attendance.”
Michael Shanks is Labour (Co-op) MP for Rutherglen, elected in 2023. He currently serves as Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, having previously been Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, and he has also held roles as Shadow Minister for Scotland and on energy and Scottish affairs committees.
Shanks shows near-total party loyalty (100% vs 99% party average) but unusually low parliamentary attendance (18% vs 34% average). He has no rebel votes. On key issues, he generally supports Labour positions—voting for workers’ rights protections, protest rights, trade union powers, and regulation of bus services and VAT changes—while opposing stricter immigration controls, tougher asylum rules, and the Rwanda deportation scheme.
Declares four financial interests, all listed as miscellaneous.
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.
6 positions
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Since Sept 2025
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
Apr 2025 - May 2025
Great British Energy Bill
Sept 2024 - Oct 2024
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Jul 2024 - Sept 2025
Scottish Affairs Committee
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Shadow Minister (Scotland)
Nov 2023 - May 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.
Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
NOSteel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
King's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (i)
NOPrivilege
NOMinister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government role · 6 Sept 2025
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
Parliamentary role · 24 Apr 2025
Great British Energy Bill
Parliamentary role · 11 Sept 2024
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government role · 9 Jul 2024
Scottish Affairs Committee
Parliamentary role · 22 Jan 2024
Shadow Minister (Scotland)
Opposition role · 28 Nov 2023
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.
