GEORGE Galloway has defended his Commons record after it was revealed he registers a vote in just one in every six divisions.

Parliamentary statistics show the Respect MP for Bradford West has taken part in only 15.5 per cent of votes in this session, the third lowest figure of any mainland MP.

In stark contrast, Conservative MP Philip Davies (Shipley) has voted in 88.5 per cent of the 156 divisions since last May, one of the best records in the country.

No other Bradford MP comes close, with fellow Tory Kris Hopkins, the Keighley MP, the next highest on the list at 77.4 per cent.

The local government minister is followed by Bradford East Liberal Democrat David Ward (61.9 per cent) and Labour’s Gerry Sutcliffe, the Bradford South MP (59.4 per cent).

But Mr Galloway disrupted the worth of the figures, because they fail to register whether an MP is absent from Westminster – or is present and has chosen to actively abstain.

Furthermore, he argued, his constituents agreed that many votes were "farcical", because most MPs followed whips’ instructions to win rewards, or avoid punishments.

A spokesman said: "The choices on offer are unpalatable to George, being either the Government’s proposal or the official Opposition’s - neither of which George supports.

"He has attended key votes where the outcome is not pre-determined, or where fundamental issues of principle are at stake which are of great concern to him and to his voters.

"So, for example, he made one of the key speeches and voted to defeat the Government over Cameron’s intention to get involved in yet another war in the Middle East, in Syria.

"He also voted to stop the bedroom tax and to scrap Trident, also matters of great concern to his voters."

The spokesman added that Mr Galloway had tabled more motions than any other MP over the last three years, adding: "Voting is just one facet of parliamentary life."

Asked about his high score, Mr Davies said: "I vote more often than any other MP in Bradford, speak in debates more often than any other MP in Bradford and ask more parliamentary questions too.

"I want to always make sure that the voice and interests of Shipley are fully heard in Parliament and I work as hard as possible to ensure that happens."

The statistics – obtained by the Telegraph & Argus – show that both David Cameron (nine per cent) and Nick Clegg (18.1 per cent), miss most votes, reflecting the Coalition’s large majority.

Ed Miliband (40.6 per cent) votes more often, but still missed more than half of the 156 divisions.