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Tom Levitt

Tom Levitt

LAB Labour Former MP
Last served High Peak (1997-05-01 – 2010-05-06)
26.0
Progressive
19 coded votes
1,229
Total votes
541
Ayes
688
Noes
0
Other

Parliamentary History

1 May 1997 – 6 May 2010 (13 yrs)

Ideology spectrum

26.0
ProgressiveCentreConservative

Progressive — based on 19 coded votes across 1 axes (2% coverage).

Policy axis scores

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

Climate / energy 26
Medium confidence 19 votes

Voting trends (most recent 12 months of activity)

Voting record

January 2010 29 votes
Division Date Vote
From what I have read of that group, my hon. Friend's remarks are very worrying. The hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor) spoke of the 111 system, which will be excellent. I am pleased to see that the pilots may be ready as early as May or June. He made a point about the BMA involving GPs in commissioning, but I would go further and look for more nursing staff to be involved in the commissioni... 27 Jan 2010 NO
To find the right response to the challenges that exist, including the demographic challenges, we must start with the right attitude. We must open our arms to an ageing society, not wring our hands. We need to be positive about how we can help older people not simply to get by, but to flourish and live full lives in times of both health and illness. Today, we have debated the dementia strategy-a n... 27 Jan 2010 NO
Question accordingly negatived. Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill. 26 Jan 2010 AYE
Well, I have much greater faith in the British voter than any of the Conservative Members present. Can the Minister not see that, when it comes to many other aspects of this place, and in other fields, a period of time is provided for, in respect of the so-called revolving door? We do not want the Door to the Chamber to become a revolving door. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendme... 26 Jan 2010 NO
If the hon. Gentleman looks at his history books, I think that he will find that there was not a consensus about the NHS-very far from it. The Conservative party did not support it at the time, but I shall not take that historical analysis any further. If the manifesto commitments were expressed in those terms, I think that the other place would recognise that the will of the people had spoken. Sa... 26 Jan 2010 NO
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for giving way on that basis. He always dances elegantly between reason and common sense-indeed, he gave a nod in the direction of conservatism, for which I suppose we must be grateful-but I wonder where, in his attack on hereditary power, he sees the monarchy. I did not know that he was a republican and I am rather surprised to hear that he is. If he is indeed a re... 26 Jan 2010 AYE
I feel sure that the right hon. Gentleman has a different, unrelated point of order. Yes, Mr. Speaker, it is a wider point of order. The problem is that many Members of the House find the process extremely difficult to accept in any case. It would be helpful if the Government recognised that an explanation is owed to the whole House on matters of this kind. I am very grateful to the right hon. Gen... 26 Jan 2010 AYE
Question accordingly negatived. Amendment proposed: 3, in page 1, line 3, leave out clause 1.- (Mr. Hoban.) 25 Jan 2010 NO
Conservative Members continually ask, "Who is in charge?" They do not have an answer. As I have said, we are clear that each authority has its own responsibilities. Amendment 5 would require the FSA to have regard to proceedings for the council for financial stability when considering its financial stability objective. Again, it is unnecessary-I shall mention one or two amendments that I believe t... 25 Jan 2010 NO
I will give way to the hon. Gentleman, but I am conscious of the time. I will be very brief. There was a most welcome written statement today from the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Children, Schools and Families about the family justice review. Would that review be able to consider the important concern that has been raised by the hon. Gentleman? I will have to think about whether it ... 20 Jan 2010 AYE
There is a credibility gap that needs to be filled. That is an excellent idea. Could it not be taken further to improve Parliament itself by having that operation within Parliament-a bit like with the budget office in Congress? That is a helpful contribution. I am sure that you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, would not want me to be overly diverted on to the governance of such an office of budget responsibil... 20 Jan 2010 AYE
Question accordingly agreed to . Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill. 20 Jan 2010 NO
that is, of fixed targets- "makes it difficult for fiscal policy to respond appropriately to the inevitable volatility of economic circumstances." That reflects precisely my argument about the inability to use either the automatic stabilisers, which would be ludicrous, or, more significantly, an additional fiscal stimulus, should the economy deteriorate and the situation worsen to the point at whi... 20 Jan 2010 AYE
I think that it was Francis Bacon who talked about dreams and predictions being subjects only for a chat by the fireside, so I do not want to get into the differences between the two. What I do want to say is that forecasting is not an exact science; it is particularly prone to error when there are major global shocks, as we have seen over the past couple of years, so it is not surprising that the... 20 Jan 2010 NO
My hon. Friend is the exception to the rule, because she has not yet made an intervention, so I am happy to give way to her. My hon. Friend must accept that many of us feel that this approach is simply far too radical a response in cutting the deficit; cuts of about 16 or 17 per cent. on essential services-that is what the Financial Times has reported-will have a massive impact on the British peop... 20 Jan 2010 NO
Division 53 20 Jan 2010 AYE
Question accordingly negatived. Proceedings interrupted (Programme Order, this day). The Chairman put forthwith the Questions necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded at that time ( Standing Order No. 83D ). Clause 26 ordered to stand part of the Bill. 19 Jan 2010 AYE
Question accordingly negatived. Clause 24 ordered to stand part of the Bill. 19 Jan 2010 NO
If the proposal became law under a Tory Government, that Government would be wholly in hock to their anaphylactically Eurosceptic tendency, with internal rows about what did or did not require a referendum. I can just hear the hon. Members for Stone and for Shipley (Philip Davies) condemning their Government for not holding a referendum on the slightest treaty that comes around. Even if I did supp... 19 Jan 2010 NO
They would have to ask for it. That raises an obvious question. Why do the Government think that this particular provision is at all desirable or necessary? Can the Minister identify any matter on which the Government may currently be defeated which they cannot bring back before the House at their discretion? No. The hon. and learned Gentleman makes a good point. As for my saying that it did not m... 19 Jan 2010 NO
"taking these first steps towards its stated objective of making Government more accountable to Parliament." Even when the Committee looked at the Bill, it believed it was getting something that we are not getting even in the debating of the Bill. The Committee indicated that "the Government's approach to constitutional modernisation has been a rebalancing of power". Those were the promises that w... 19 Jan 2010 AYE
Those are the very issues that we are looking at. I will table amendments on the issue for consideration in Committee, by which stage we will have further clarity on the points that the hon. Gentleman made. His contribution was important, and I know that my right hon. Friend has also been supportive on the matter. The second notable aspect of the debate was the fact that, for the first time in my ... 18 Jan 2010 AYE
Question accordingly negatived. Question put forthwith ( Standing Order No. 31(2) ), That the proposed words be there added. 13 Jan 2010 AYE
Let us not forget the contribution that commercial businesses need to make to avert costs in energy and reduce their carbon emissions. We help with expert advice, interest-free loans and mechanisms such as climate change agreements and the emissions trading scheme. The right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) , who is no longer in the Chamber- Yes, he is. Ah, there he is! Thank you. The... 13 Jan 2010 NO
The hon. Member for Havant talked about progression, which is an important issue. He talked about the report of the right hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) and the importance of trying to inspire apprentices to build their skills up to the higher education level. We have committed-again in the skills strategy-to introduce an apprenticeship scholarship fund from the autumn, and we are curren... 13 Jan 2010 NO
I am grateful to the Minister for his patience in giving way, but he again spoke about people with the highest care needs. We all agree that we should encourage as many people as possible to live at home and introduce a system to enable that-there is no argument about that. However, it is simply untrue that the Bill focuses resources on those with the highest care needs. Those who need residential... 12 Jan 2010 NO
Amendment 20 addresses the issue of carers. It would insert the wording: "Any process under subsection (4C) may not be contingent on the activity of, or acquiring, a carer." Even in a situation where carers would still be able to input their knowledge and expertise to design reablement packages, it would be difficult for them to be assured that that was being carried out appropriately if they were... 12 Jan 2010 NO
I also want to emphasise to the Committee-the hon. Gentleman acknowledged this in moving the amendment-that we have committed to reviewing the implementation of free personal care within the first 12 to 18 months of the policy coming into force. After that review, it will be possible to reconsider the predicted costs of delivering free personal care and the conditions for eligibility, if necessary... 12 Jan 2010 NO
Question accordingly agreed to. Bill read a Second time. Motion made, and Question put forthwith ( Standing Order No. 83A(7) ), 11 Jan 2010 AYE
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