MP for Liverpool Wavertree
“A Labour MP with strong committee involvement and a record of occasional rebellion on welfare and immigration-related issues.”
Paula Barker is the Labour (Co-op) MP for Liverpool Wavertree, first elected in December 2019. She currently serves on the Panel of Chairs and on the Committees of Privileges and Standards, and has previously sat on multiple committees and held a shadow ministerial role in housing and local government.
She shows very high party loyalty (99%) and attends votes more often than the party average (50% vs 33%). Her voting on key topics is mixed: she has generally voted for NHS funding, generally voted against stricter immigration controls and against tougher asylum measures, and has a mixed record on welfare reforms and related bills; she also rebelled on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill in 2025.
Declared financial interests include gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources (1 entry) and visits outside the UK (1 entry).
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.
9 positions
Panel of Chairs
Since Nov 2025
Committee on Standards
Since Oct 2024
Committee of Privileges
Since Oct 2024
Public Accounts Committee
Dec 2023 - May 2024
Shadow Minister (Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Oct 2022 - Nov 2023
Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill
Oct 2022 - Nov 2022
Home Affairs Committee
Feb 2022 - Nov 2023
Judicial Review and Courts Bill
Oct 2021 - Nov 2021
Justice Committee
May 2020 - Jul 2021
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.
Opposition Day: Protections for children from online harms
NOUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Third Reading
AYEUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill [HL]
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
NOUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 3
NOIndustry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: New Clause 2
NOIndustry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill
Industry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill Committee: Amendment 1
NOIndustry and Exports (Financial Assistance) Bill
Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2026-27
AYELocal Government Finance Report (England) 2026-27
AYEDraft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026
AYEUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Second Reading
AYEUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill [HL]
Opposition Day: Youth unemployment
NOOpposition Day: British Indian Ocean Territory
NODraft Medical Devices (Fees Amendment) Regulations 2026
AYEMedical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 1
NOMedical Training (Prioritisation) Bill
Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill: Amendment 2
NOMedical Training (Prioritisation) 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.
