Mr John Leech | ProjectParly

Parliamentary History

Liberal Democrat

Unknown constituency

5 May 2005 – 30 Mar 2015 (9 yrs 10 mo)

Ideology spectrum

68.7

ProgressiveCentreConservative

Conservative — based on 25 coded votes across 3 axes (1% coverage).

Policy axis scores

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

Economic policy 20

Low confidence 5 votes

Civil liberties 100

Low confidence 2 votes

Climate / energy 78

Medium confidence 18 votes

Voting trends (most recent 12 months of activity)

Voting record

July 2014 12 votes

Division	Date	Vote
As you know, Madam Deputy Speaker, we are here because of the European Court of Justice and its decision to strike down regulations to enable internet providers to retain communications data for law enforcement purposes for up to 12 months. That is an issue we must address for the reasons the Home Secretary and the Minister have outlined. We also need to ensure that the Government respond to the n...	15 Jul 2014	AYE
The other point that I am afraid is not very pleasant about the way Ministers are handling this matter is them bringing the Bill forward a week before the Session As for the Lib Dems—I do not want to sound naive, but their brand has always been that they are the defenders of the nation’s liberties, yet they are colluding with the Government on this guillotine motion. Whatever we think of the conte...	15 Jul 2014	AYE
I am incredulous about what the Minister has just said. If Navitus Bay has paid for the assessment, how on earth can it be independent? I am not the planning Minister, but as far as I am aware, it is normal practice for the developer to pay for the independent assessment. The assessment is still independent and is effectively done at arm’s length from the developer. My hon. Friend the Member for B...	9 Jul 2014	NO
see the need for it, and where we have responded by arranging for an urban development corporation to provide it. It is in between. Oh, it is in between! Everything is “in between” when the detail becomes awkward, but the detail is the responsibility of Government. We cannot smoosh around the words and hide among the vagaries when we are in government, which is why that policy, too, is a dangerous...	9 Jul 2014	NO
The second test is fairness. The new system must be fair, with those on middle and low incomes still being able to access products that give them the certainty they want in retirement. The billions we spend on pension tax relief must not benefit only those at the very top. We have talked about a report and analysis. Even though the statistics now show that after a 33-week consultation only five of...	2 Jul 2014	AYE
work and about the amount of any tax liability will not be changed. The taxpayer would have already paid the money had they not entered an avoidance scheme. The taxpayer can continue to dispute the case, and will be paid back with interest should they win. We are not restricting people’s rights. Prudent taxpayers should recognise that tax avoidance carries a significant risk of not working and tha...	2 Jul 2014	AYE
I will give way one last time. The Minister seems to imply that the worldwide downturn—the economic recession that was a consequence of the banking crash—was the responsibility of the previous Labour Government. It is a ludicrous assertion. Surely he will accept that there was an international banking crash that led to the economic difficulties with which the Labour Government were faced in 2007. ...	2 Jul 2014	NO
I have some sympathy with what the hon. Gentleman is saying about the fact that these pensions provisions are being handled by the Treasury. Does he agree that the two pensions Bills announced in the Queen’s speech appear to pull in different directions? One is about giving people more control over their money, while the other is about collective direct contribution schemes, which are the opposite...	2 Jul 2014	NO
It is a disgrace that while millions of ordinary people suffer the privations of wage cuts, unemployment and poverty, a rich minority is avoiding and evading taxes. I am talking about corporates and billionaires. There is indeed one law for the rich and one for the poor, the poor being the great majority of wage and salary earners. They are not necessarily poor in the specific sense, but they pay ...	1 Jul 2014	NO
is outdated and time consuming for businesses. Data on employee shareholder status will therefore be picked up from companies’ annual share scheme returns to HMRC. As I said, the scheme has been in place only since the beginning of September 2013, so we have not even reached the deadline by which companies must submit their returns to HMRC for that period. It is far too early to finalise any detai...	1 Jul 2014	NO
It is striking that time and again senior figures in the Labour party went around describing this as a tax cut for hedge funds. It is to the credit of the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun that she refused to repeat that accusation. Although she did not quite go as far as she might have done towards putting the record straight, at least she did not repeat the accusation despite being given mu...	1 Jul 2014	NO
New clause 14 calls for the Chancellor to— Will the Minister give way? I think I should. Can the Minister identify anything I said that was factually incorrect? [Interruption.] Someone says most of it, but in the time available, I ought to turn to the new clause.	1 Jul 2014	NO

June 2014 13 votes

Division	Date	Vote
The head of the OBR also made it clear that there were risks involved, and that those advocating this step would find it would be better not to rush into it, but to do it after the next election, and that is the position we take. This issue should be looked at again after the next election. The reality is that Labour does not have economic credibility. It borrowed too much in the good times when i...	25 Jun 2014	NO
Local authorities have a critical role in the sector, and we expect them to use the powers that are available to them to tackle the bad practice that sadly exists. Last Will the Minister give way? I will take only one intervention, as I am up against the buffers. The Minister talks about rogue landlords. Can he tell us what specific legislation exists to deal with rogue landlords who manage housin...	25 Jun 2014	NO
“particular taxes as devolved taxes”— (Mr David Jones.) This amendment clarifies that Chapters 3 and 4 of Part 4A of GOWA 2006 deal with devolved taxes. This distinguishes devolved taxes from the local taxes (such as council tax and non-domestic rates) over which the Assembly already has legislative competence under paragraph 12 of Part 1 of Schedule 7 to that Act. Amendment made: 2, page 18, line...	24 Jun 2014	NO
It is no wonder that the public see us politicians as a bit devious and above and beyond the basic rules, because we always apply rules that suit us. That is what the public see this as, purely and simply: politicians having a second bite of the cherry when they do not. I ask the Secretary of State to reconsider the amendment and to consider our proposals seriously. With your permission, Madam Dep...	24 Jun 2014	NO
We must also learn the lesson that we need a different model. We need a reserved powers model to form the bedrock of our developing devolution settlement in the United Kingdom. I have no qualms at all about talking about England, because we are a United Kingdom, but if I deviated from my notes and spoke at length about England you, Madam Deputy Speaker, would take me to task pretty quickly,. Welsh...	24 Jun 2014	NO
I have another general point on my hon. Friend’s suggestions on how such decisions could be made more quickly. I hope that he welcomes this Government’s introduction of neighbourhood planning, which for the first time gives people who are not professional planners or elected local councillors the ability to draw up a plan for their neighbourhood. The key point about a neighbourhood plan is that it...	18 Jun 2014	AYE
My hon. Friend the Member for Warrington South (David Mowat) made a thoughtful and well informed contribution, like his previous contributions. Sadly, we have to conclude, like him, that Labour has nothing serious to say. My hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Chris Heaton-Harris) comprehensively demolished the Opposition policy. He is absolutely right to point out that price controls stifle inve...	18 Jun 2014	NO
I believe I have only a few seconds left. I would like to underline that we are committed to resolving this issue. We are monitoring it extremely carefully, with a focus on ensuring that performance at HMPO improves, that passport applications are processed efficiently and effectively and that urgent and compassionate cases are prioritised. I recognise the importance— Order. I do not know what und...	18 Jun 2014	NO
I am not alone in wanting this change. The Joint Committee on Human Rights said in its report of October 2011: “We also support the amendment of the Public Order Act to remove all reference to offences based on insulting words and behaviour. This would enhance human rights and remove the possible incompatibility with the right to freedom of expression.” Peter Tatchell—an unlikely ally of mine, Mad...	17 Jun 2014	NO
Question accordingly negatived. Main Question put.	12 Jun 2014	AYE
I thank the Minister; we do have a little bit of time left. Does the Minister believe that people in this country will be better off at the time of the general election in 2015 than they were at the time of the last general election? Does she agree with the IFS that they will not be? The whole country will be better off, because we are fixing the economy, getting more people into work and seeing w...	12 Jun 2014	NO
Division 3	12 Jun 2014	AYE
“I’m not going to sign a blank piece of paper on your show”. Later the same day, my shadow also backtracked, saying that Labour supported the reforms, but that they did not go far enough. The Opposition have been in complete chaos and confusion about these landmark pension reforms—some of the most important that will ever be introduced. The reason why they have been in chaos is that they really do...	11 Jun 2014	NO

May 2014 5 votes

Division	Date	Vote
Will the Solicitor-General give way? I have one or two more points to make, and then I shall see if I can give way again. [Interruption.] All right, I will give way. The hon. Member for Chesterfield talked about looking at the polling, but he should look at the polling, because the people of this country are starting to turn to the Conservative party and to recognise the achievements of the Conser...	14 May 2014	NO
(b) not greater than two weeks rent for the accommodation in question. (9) Costs incurred by persons seeking accommodation for the undertaking of credit checks shall be reimbursed upon the signing of a tenancy agreement. (10) In this section, any reference to the grant or renewal of a tenancy shall include the grant or renewal or continuance of a lease or licence of, or other right or permission t...	13 May 2014	NO
(6) Where a ticket is sold through a secondary ticketing platform, guidance issued under section (1) shall set out how the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 apply to tickets as unique goods, including— (a) how sellers must provide all relevant information about the ticket including but not limited to the face value of the ticket and a designated...	13 May 2014	NO
Will the hon. Lady give way? No; as I said, I am not going to give way. Order. The House must listen to the hon. Lady. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I will not detain the House for long. I want to talk to new clause 13. I was hoping that my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) would not divide the House on it, but it has highlighted yet again the extremely important issue of food ...	13 May 2014	NO
I reassure the Minister that, as of September, that will be in the national curriculum, so all is under control. I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for highlighting that. To complete the set, may I use this opportunity to mention the important work done by credit unions that operate junior savers clubs in schools in the constituencies of many hon. Members? It would be great to have them in m...	13 May 2014	NO

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