MP for Maldon
“A long-serving Conservative MP with near-total party loyalty and a strong attendance record, who has nonetheless shown independence in a handful of high-profile votes on standards, Northern Ireland and EU withdrawal issues.”
Sir John Whittingdale is a long-serving Conservative MP for Maldon, first elected in 1992. He has held ministerial roles in Culture, Media and Sport and in Science, Innovation and Technology, and is currently a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He has also served as a Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care during 2024.
Whittingdale votes with his party most of the time (99% loyalty) and attends divisions at 78%—well above the party average. He has 13 rebel votes against the party, including notable divisions on the Standards Motion (2023), amendments to the Public Order Bill (2023), and several EU/Northern Ireland-related votes in 2019.
Whittingdale has 13 declared financial interests, including six entries for gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources; two miscellaneous entries; two entries for visits outside the UK; one entry for land or property; one entry noting a family member engaged in third-party lobbying; and one entry for gifts and benefits from sources outside the UK.
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.
25 positions
Foreign Affairs Committee
Since Oct 2024
Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
Jul 2024 - Nov 2024
Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation Bill
May 2024 - May 2024
Zoological Society of London (Leases) Bill
Feb 2024 - Feb 2024
Media Bill
Nov 2023 - Dec 2023
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
May 2023 - Dec 2023
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
May 2023 - Dec 2023
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.
Finance (No. 2) Bill: Third Reading
NOFinance (No. 2) Bill
Finance (No. 2) Bill Report Stage: Amendment 6
AYEFinance (No. 2) Bill
Finance (No. 2) Bill Report Stage: Amendment 5
AYEFinance (No. 2) Bill
Finance (No. 2) Bill Report Stage: New Clause 11
AYEFinance (No. 2) Bill
Courts and Tribunals Bill: Second Reading
NOCourts and Tribunals Bill
Courts and Tribunals Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
AYECourts and Tribunals Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 106
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 102
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 44
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 41
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 38
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 37
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 17
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Foreign Affairs Committee
Parliamentary role · 21 Oct 2024
Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
Opposition role · 19 Jul 2024
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.
