MP for Wakefield and Rothwell
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
“Labour Co-op MP and Transport minister with near-total party loyalty and a rare rebel vote.”
Simon Lightwood is the Labour Co-operative MP for Wakefield and Rothwell, first elected in 2022. He serves as Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Transport, a role he took up in 2024, and has previously been Labour’s Shadow Minister for Transport. His parliamentary work has included transport-focused bill scrutiny, such as the Automated Vehicles Bill [HL], the Seafarers’ Wages Bill [HL], and more recently the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill committee.
Lightwood has generally voted with his party on welfare and workers’ rights, supporting Universal Credit and protections at work. He tends to oppose immigration controls and tighter asylum rules, and has a mixed record on trade union powers; he also backs bus services regulation and protest rights, while voting against the Rwanda deportation scheme. His attendance is below the party average (27% vs 34%), and he has 100% party loyalty with one notable rebel vote.
Declared financial interests include three entries regarding donations and other support (including loans) for activities as an MP.
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.
5 positions
Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL]
Since Jun 2025
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Since Jul 2024
Automated Vehicles Bill [HL]
Mar 2024 - Mar 2024
Seafarers' Wages Bill [HL]
Jan 2023 - Jan 2023
Shadow Minister (Transport)
Sept 2022 - 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
AYEKing's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (p)
NOKing's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (l)
NOKing's Speech Motion for an Address: amendment (o)
NODraft Immigration and Asylum (Provision of Accommodation to Failed Asylum-Seekers) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
AYEDraft Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
AYEPension Schemes Bill: Government Motion relating to Lords Reason 88X
AYECollective Defined Contribution Pension Schemes Bill
Privilege
NOChildren's School and Wellbeing Bill: Motion relating to Lords Amendments 38V to 38X
AYENorthern Ireland Troubles Bill: Carry-over (Motion)
AYENorthern Ireland Troubles Bill
Pension Schemes Bill: Motion relating to Lords Reason 88Q
AYECollective 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
AYEEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Motion relating to Lords Amendments 94B and 94C
AYEEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Motion relating to Lords Amendments 36, 90 and 155
AYEEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment 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.
