How much does your MP contribute in the House of Commons?

The analysis shows how often each MP in Dorset has voted, how many debates they have taken part in, and how many parliamentary questions they have asked since the last general election.

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

Of the 491 votes over this time, Sir Christopher Chope, who serves as a backbench MP, recorded 174 ayes or noes, and acted as a teller to count five divisions.

He recorded no vote, or abstained, on 312 occasions, giving the Tory representative a participation rate of 36 per cent.

This was the lowest rate of all UK politicians who have sat in the House of Commons since the election (excluding the Speakers).

Speaking about his voting record, Sir Christopher Chope said: 

“Like all stats, they present a partial picture. During lockdown, as a matter of principle, I refused to vote online. I travelled up to London to vote physically, but I refused to vote remotely.

“I don’t think it’s fair to compare me with people who were pruning their roses at the same time they were voting on their mobile phones.

“The reason that I did that was because I spoke to the Speaker [Sir Lindsay Hoyle] and said that I wanted to participate in Westminster voting but at the time he discouraged me from going to Westminster before I was double jabbed.

“Again, because I was not willing to wear a gas mask or a face covering in the Chamber. I was the only person not wearing a covering in the chamber.

“That was because of private issues, but again I discussed that with the Speaker."

The figures also show Sir Christopher Chope, who was elected to his seat on May 1, 1997, has asked 361 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 11 put to a government minister in person, 347 in writing and two topical questions, those asked during the last 15 minutes of most ministerial question sessions.

Sir Christopher said: "It's about engaging in debates and asking questions and based on those I am extremely active. Since the last session, I asked over 550 written questions just in the last year, I've spoken in lots of debates, and I was very active on Friday.

“I was against it in principle, I was in favour of people doing their votes in parliament.”

On the contrary, Conservative MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Michael Tomlinson has one of the highest participation rates of all UK politicians who have sat in the House of Commons since the election.

Of the 491 votes over this time, Michael Tomlinson, who serves in the Government, recorded 367 ayes or noes, and acted as a teller to count 95 divisions.

He recorded no vote, or abstained, on just 29 occasions, giving the Tory representative a participation rate of 94 per cent.

This was one of the highest rates of all UK politicians who have sat in the House of Commons since the election (excluding the Speakers).

See how often your Dorset MP has voted, how many debates they have taken part in, and how many parliamentary questions they have asked since the last general election, here:

The average participation rate for UK politicians who have sat in the House of Commons since the election is 81 per cent.

Of the 491 votes over this time, Conservative MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, recorded 397 ayes or noes.

He recorded no vote, or abstained, on 94 occasions, giving the Tory representative a participation rate of 81 per cent, equal to the UK average.

Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, Tobias Ellwood had a participation rate one per cent lower than the average.

Mr Ellwood, who serves as a backbench MP, recorded 395 ayes or noes and recorded no vote, or abstained, on 96 occasions.

He also participated in 136 debates, asking 78 Parliamentary Questions since the last election.