MP for New Forest West
“A long-serving Conservative MP with strong attendance who mostly votes with the party but has a few high-profile rebellions, notably on Rwanda-related amendments and the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.”
Sir Desmond Swayne is a Conservative MP for New Forest West, first elected in 1997. He currently serves on the Panel of Chairs and the Human Rights Joint Committee, and sits on the Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill committee. He has held ministerial roles in government, including Minister of State for International Development (2014–2016) and has served on a range of parliamentary committees and as a whip in earlier years.
He is highly loyal to his party, with 98% party loyalty and 86% attendance. He has 48 rebel votes and sits on the centre-right of the spectrum (57/100). His voting record shows a mix of positions: he generally supports tighter immigration controls and the asylum system, and the Rwanda deportation scheme, but has opposed NHS funding increases and bus services regulation. His record on issues like Universal Credit, VAT, and transgender rights is varied rather than uniformly aligned.
Declared financial interests include land and property (two entries) and family members employed (one entry).
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.
24 positions
Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill
Since Jun 2025
Secure 16 to 19 Academies Bill
Since Jun 2025
Panel of Chairs
Since Nov 2024
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
Since Nov 2024
Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief Bill (Formerly known as International Freedom of Religion or Belief Bill)
Apr 2024 - Apr 2024
Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill [HL]
Feb 2024 - Mar 2024
Ecclesiastical Committee
Mar 2020 - May 2024
Work and Pensions Committee
Mar 2020 - May 2024
Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
Jan 2020 - May 2024
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Apr 2019 - Nov 2019
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.
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 6
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 5
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 4
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 3
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 2
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Opposition Day Motion: Defence
AYEOpposition Day Motion: Oil and Gas
AYENational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 6
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 5
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 3
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 2
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
Opposition day motion: student loans
AYEOpposition day motion: fuel duty
AYEThe 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.
