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Laura Sandys

Laura Sandys

CON Conservative Former MP
Last served South Thanet (2010-05-06 – 2015-03-30)
41.3
Leaning progressive
17 coded votes
1,005
Total votes
409
Ayes
596
Noes
0
Other

Parliamentary History

6 May 2010 – 30 Mar 2015 (4 yrs 10 mo)

Ideology spectrum

41.3
ProgressiveCentreConservative

Leaning progressive — based on 17 coded votes across 3 axes (2% coverage).

Policy axis scores

0 = progressive, 50 = centre, 100 = conservative. Based on coded division votes.

Economic policy 50
Medium confidence 10 votes
Civil liberties 100
Low confidence 2 votes
Climate / energy 0
Low confidence 5 votes

Voting trends (most recent 12 months of activity)

Voting record

March 2015 12 votes
Division Date Vote
Social care is a priority for the Government, and, in the context of difficult spending decisions, we have taken steps to protect care and support services. For example, we have allocated extra funds for those services during the current Parliament. We have created a better care fund, which, next month, will introduce a £5.3 billion pooled budget for health and care that will provide much needed f... 25 Mar 2015 AYE
I was simply making the case that our procedures are brought into disrepute when we have not had the chance even to debate a huge number of amendments, much less to put them to the vote, including an important amendment that would have closed a tax-dodging loophole for private equity firms. Can we look again at the way in which the business of this House is organised, Mr Hood? I thank the hon. Lad... 25 Mar 2015 AYE
I understand the hon. Gentleman’s point, and there is also the issue about where people live, where they work and what services they use. The south-west has a particular issue when its population doubles every summer, because people may not make a contribution through taxes paid directly in the south-west, but they are using services there. There is another whole argument to be had about the locat... 25 Mar 2015 NO
He also said that “the best evidence we have still suggests that raising the top rate of tax would raise little revenue and make, at best, a marginal contribution to reducing the budget deficit an incoming government would face after the next election.” I am spoilt for choice, but ladies first. I thank the Minister for his generosity in giving way again. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said t... 25 Mar 2015 NO
That is why the £12 billion of welfare cuts that have been pencilled in for some two years now in various statements by the Treasury, and by the Chancellor in particular, are very important. Part of that approach might be to cut away further the support given to people in work, perhaps through the tax credits system, at some future point. Tax credit is to be replaced by universal credit, but the i... 25 Mar 2015 NO
For most people, a Government who are fiscally credible are a Government who meet their own fiscal targets. The budget deficit will be around £90 billion this year, and next year’s budget, far from being balanced, as was promised in 2010, is projected to show a £75 billion deficit. Meanwhile, public sector net debt will be £217 billion higher in 2015-16 than was projected in 2010. How can the Gove... 24 Mar 2015 AYE
“(aa) in subsection (1)(h), omit “36(2),”, and”. (4) In section 55B(4)(a) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (transferable tax allowance for married couples and civil partners: entitlement to tax reduction), for “£1,050” substitute “£1,060”. (5) The amendments made by paragraphs (3) and (4) have effect for the tax year 2015-16 and subsequent tax years. And it is declared that it is expedient in the public... 23 Mar 2015 AYE
(c) for any relief, other than a relief that— (i) so far as it is applicable to goods, applies to goods of every description, and (ii) so far as it is applicable to services, applies to services of every description. The Speaker put forthwith the Questions necessary to dispose of the motions made in the name of the Chancellor of the Exchequer ( Standing Order No. 51(3) . Question put, 23 Mar 2015 AYE
No, I will not. This is the most significant tax cut for working people in a generation. As a result of the increases to the personal allowance, a typical basic rate taxpayer will be £905 a year better off in 2017-18, and 27.2 million individuals will have benefited from increases to the personal allowance since 2010. As a result of these changes, over 3.7 million people— [Interruption.] Oppositio... 23 Mar 2015 AYE
My hon. Friend referred to the 80,000 figure that I quoted for retaliatory evictions as “fantasy” figures. He prefers his figure of 6,000. I understand that the English housing survey does not give figures on retaliatory eviction, but just talks about the fact that 9% of tenancies are ended by the landlord. As I understand it, that does not provide the clarity that he wants on the numbers. My hon.... 10 Mar 2015 NO
As many in the House are aware, I have been interested in the secondary ticketing market for many years now, and, alongside the hon. Member for Hove (Mike Weatherley) , I have co-chaired the all-party parliamentary group on ticket abuse, the report of which spearheaded the former amendments to those we are debating today. Does the hon. Lady agree that it was bizarre that the CMA came out with guid... 9 Mar 2015 AYE
“larger proportional falls in income for higher-income households.” That is absolutely vital. Inequality has fallen and the biggest burden has been borne by those with the broadest shoulders. We can only have a fair society on the back of a healthy, well-functioning economy and we can only have a healthy, well-functioning economy on the back of sustainable public finances. The Government’s long-te... 4 Mar 2015 NO
February 2015 8 votes
Division Date Vote
It is fair to say that bankers got it very wrong over a number of years. Regrettably, they are still getting it wrong, and several Members mentioned HSBC. Its chief executive, who is in front of the Treasury Committee this afternoon, has apologised for the failures and errors, which have been pushed out into the public domain. However, the reality is that the Government have taken action to sort o... 25 Feb 2015 NO
(a) the Association of Chief Police Officers; (b) the National Crime Agency; and (c) such other persons as the Secretary of State thinks fit.”” — (Diana Johnson.) This amendment establishes child abduction warning notices (CAWNs) on a statutory basis, addressing concerns raised in the House of Lords on the issue, by introducing a two-stage process providing judicial oversight, without compromising... 23 Feb 2015 NO
(c) the Disclosure and Barring Service. (7) A person guilty of an offence under this Part of this Act shall be liable— (a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both such imprisonment and fine; (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years.”— (Diana Johnson.) Brought... 23 Feb 2015 NO
(2) After section 8, insert— “(8A) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under any provision of this Act to prove that he knew, or had reasonable cause to believe, that the information, document or article disclosed was— (a) germane to an official investigation of, or inquiry into, historic child abuse, and (b) provided only to an officer of such an investigation or inquiry.”— (John... 23 Feb 2015 NO
As freedom of information requests have revealed, the Government’s attempt jointly to badge all stakeholders together did not succeed, because the BMA rejected the very guidance published by the Government. It said that gender selection abortion is “normally unethical”, but that the guidance “fails to reflect the…full legal situation regarding abortion and gender.” The BMA therefore had a differen... 23 Feb 2015 NO
“the draft Country Specific Recommendations published 2 June call for commitment to the UK’s Youth Contract to be maintained.” In other words, it would not pursue Labour’s proposal on guaranteed jobs, and what we did was correct. We supported people and put money in place to create work experience, sector-based work academies, and incentives. I am grateful to the Minister for giving way; this must... 11 Feb 2015 NO
That is not all. Contrary to the impression that we are somehow drawing the heart out of local communities through this funding settlement, we have to see it in the context of resources that have been given to local areas. For instance, £12 billon is being given to local enterprise partnerships in England to spend on local economic priorities. Those growth deals will help to train young people, cr... 10 Feb 2015 AYE
Division 150 10 Feb 2015 AYE
January 2015 10 votes
Division Date Vote
This has been a very good debate in many respects— [ Interruption. ] Yes, there is a “but”. I want to return to the opening of the debate. We have a motion before us that seeks to divide the House. I have sat here and listened to all these excellent speeches and searched for the issue of substance that divides us. What have we got in the motion that seeks to divide us? The 0.7% target? We were all... 28 Jan 2015 NO
My hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (John Woodcock) talked about the huge financial problems facing his trust, and made a powerful case for its uniqueness in terms of its geographical position and transport links, such that it needs to be looked at seriously in future. My hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull North (Diana Johnson) expressed concern about financial irregulariti... 28 Jan 2015 NO
Division 144 28 Jan 2015 NO
made by the Minister and explain why new clause 16 is, on all fronts, a better and neater solution that the very welcome concession the Government have made. Let us bust some myths. First, new clause 16 simply puts pubs on the same footing as laundrettes, theatres and—would you believe it—casinos and nightclubs, which currently enjoy more protection under the planning law than pubs do. Most people... 26 Jan 2015 NO
“unconventional petroleum” means petroleum which does not flow readily to the wellbore. (6) In section 3 of the Petroleum Act 1998, at the end of subsection (4) add “and subsection (4A). “(4A) Nothing in this section permits the grant of a licence to search and bore for and get unconventional petroleum in Great Britain during the relevant period. (4B) For the purposes of subsection (4A) “relevant ... 26 Jan 2015 NO
‘(1) The Scotland Act 1998 is amended as follows: (2) In Schedule 5, Part II, section D2, after “gas other than through pipes,”, insert— “( ) The licensing of onshore shale gas extraction underlying Scotland. ( ) Responsibility for mineral access rights for onshore extraction of shale gas in Scotland.”’— (Tom Greatrex.) Brought up. 26 Jan 2015 NO
I am delighted that my hon. Friend says that compensation for blight may indeed be possible, as proposed in my amendment 61. I am sorry that there is such a lack of time to make a serious response to the amendments still outstanding for debate this afternoon. Will the hon. Lady give way? No—I am sorry, but I am short of time. Labour’s new clause 19 does not offer the kind of protection it pretends... 26 Jan 2015 NO
Division 137 26 Jan 2015 NO
Paragraph 13 provides that if the power is used two or more times against the same individual in a six-month period, the police would be allowed to hold the documents a third time for any five days before they need to apply to a court for an extension of time. The court is required to refuse to extend the duration of the travel documents’ retention unless exceptional circumstances apply. The amend... 6 Jan 2015 NO
‘(2) This section shall be repealed on 31 December 2016 unless both Houses of Parliament have passed a resolution that it should continue in force until a future date. (3) The date specified in a resolution of both Houses of Parliament under subsection (2) may be modified by subsequent resolutions of both Houses of Parliament.’. This amendment would require a vote in Parliament to renew the power ... 6 Jan 2015 NO
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