New analysis can compare and contrast the work of each Bradford MP across three separate categories. 

As MPs return to the House of Commons following the Easter recess, we will be taking a look at different MPs' contributions to parliamentary matters each day.

The data is broken down by how many times the MP has voted, how many debates the MP has taken part in and how many parliamentary questions the MP has asked since the last general election.

In the first of this series, we will take a look at the contributions of Philip Davies, the Conservative MP for Shipley.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Votes by Philip Davies MP

The figures from the House of Commons Library (HoC) show the activities of MPs between the state opening of Parliament on December 16, 2019 and March 7, 2022.

Of the 491 votes over this time, Philip Davies recorded 340 ayes or noes.

The backbench MP recorded no vote or abstained on 151 occasions – giving the Tory representative a participation rate of 69 per cent.

Mr Davies' participation rate is below the 81 per cent average for all UK politicians who have sat in the House of Commons since the election (excluding the Speakers).

The HoC Library said MPs may not vote because they are carrying out other work related to their parliamentary, government or opposition roles.

Participation rates may be affected by ‘pairing arrangements’, whereby MPs from different parties who cannot attend a division agree to cancel out one another’s vote.

Before divisions, debates are held for Members to discuss government policy, new laws and topical issues of the day to help the House reach an informed decision.

The Conservatives had the highest average participation rate of 86 per cent while Labour had an overall rate of 77 per cent.

Mr Davies told the Telegraph and Argus: "With regards to votes, unfortunately these figures cannot take into account abstentions, or where paired. Also as I am on the Panel of Chairs - appointed by the Speaker to chair committee stages of Bills - it means that where there are votes on Bills where I chaired the Committee Stage of the Bill I am not allowed to participate in those votes or debates - as is the case this week with the Building Safety Bill."

Debates

Since the last election, Mr Davies has taken part in 55 debates, speaking a total of 18,674 words.

By comparison, the average MP has spoken 44,530 words over the same period, Prime Minister Boris Johnson around 394,000 and Democratic Unionist Party MP Jim Shannon a whopping 560,000.

These include spoken contributions and oral questions in the House of Commons chamber and in Westminster Hall, but not those shorter than four words.

Explaining the figures, Mr Davies said: "With regards to debates, the government habitually do not give enough time and speeches are regularly cut back to a time limit of two or three minutes which I find to be fairly pointless and so I have shifted much of my focus to Parliamentary questions which I find a more useful way of holding the government to account - as you can see from those figures."

Parliamentary Questions

The figures show Mr Davies has asked 605 Parliamentary Questions since the last election.

These are put formally to a government minister about a matter they are responsible for, to seek information or to press for action from the Government.

This included 12 put to a government minister in person, 581 in writing and nine topical questions – those asked during the last 15 minutes of most ministerial question sessions.

The MP has asked three during Prime Minister's Questions – the weekly session when the Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces scrutiny in the House.

Explaining what life is like as an MP, Mr Davies said: "Obviously there are the delegated legislation committees which I also chair in my role on the Panel of Chairs (Judith does too by the way), and the committee stage of Bills which last for two whole days a week for many weeks.

"There are also select committees which tend to meet once a week - but all of the above requires a lot of preparation obviously.

"Then there are meetings with Ministers and colleagues to discuss policy issues etc.

"Also, unlike virtually any other MP, I read and reply personally to every single email sent to me which obviously takes many hours a day every day."