MP for Witham
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
“A long-serving Conservative MP with a high-profile ministerial career who now leads the opposition’s foreign affairs brief.”
Priti Patel is the Conservative MP for Witham, first elected in 2010. She has held senior government roles, including Home Secretary from 2019 to 2022 and International Development Secretary, and since 4 November 2024 has served as the Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.
Patel shows very high party loyalty (99%), with attendance around 60% (slightly above the party average). She generally votes for stricter immigration controls, a tougher asylum system and for the Rwanda deportation scheme, while often voting against measures such as Universal Credit expansion, bus service regulation, VAT changes and stronger trade union powers. Her NHS funding votes are mixed. She has several notable rebellions against the party on specific motions, including emissions trading, the Windsor Framework, home detention curfew and EU withdrawal-related motions.
Declared 17 financial interests: 9 entries for gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources; 7 entries for visits outside the UK; and 1 miscellaneous item.
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.
11 positions
Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Since Nov 2024
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill [HL]
Nov 2024 - Nov 2024
Home Secretary
Jul 2019 - Sept 2022
Committees on Arms Export Controls
Feb 2018 - Nov 2019
Foreign Affairs Committee
Feb 2018 - Nov 2019
Secretary of State for International Development
Jul 2016 - Nov 2017
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) (Cabinet)
May 2015 - Jul 2016
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
AYESteel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill
King's Speech Motion for an Address
NOKing's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (p)
AYEKing's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (l)
NOKing's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (o)
AYEPension Schemes Bill: Government Motion relating to Lords Reason 88X
NOCollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
Privilege
AYENorthern Ireland Troubles Bill: Carry-over (Motion)
NONorthern Ireland Troubles Bill
Pension Schemes Bill: Motion relating to Lords Reason 88Q
NOCollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Motion relating to Lords Amendments 85, 86, 97 to 116, 120, 121 and 123 etc
NOEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Motion relating to Lords Amendments 94B and 94C
NOEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Motion relating to Lords Amendments 36, 90 and 155
NOEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Motion to disagree with Lords Amendments 89B and 89C
NOEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Crime and Policing Bill: Government motion in relation to LA439
NOCrime and Policing Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Govt Motion to insist on Amdt 38J and disagree with Amdts 38V to 38X
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026
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.
