Argyll, Bute & South Lochaber / data
Brendan O'Hara · Scottish National Party · sitting since 07 May 2015 · every division, speech and committee appearance.
Since election
4006days
from 07 May 2015
Divisions
156
of 504 possible
Attendance
31%
348 absent / paired
Whip alignment
99%
vs party majority
Speeches
52
42 debates
Written Qs
94
90 answered
Committees
0
memberships
Expenses
£361k paid
FY 2024–2025 · 203 claims
Interests
7
5 categories
A · Overview
Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted — engagement only, not direction.
| Issue | Volume | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | 53 | |
| Economy | 47 | |
| Employment | 38 | |
| Welfare and Benefits | 25 | |
| Pensions | 19 | |
| Universal Credit | 12 | |
| Constitution and Democracy | 11 | |
| Pensions and Retirement | 8 |
Speech topics
Words spoken, by topic. Source: Hansard.
| Topic | Debates | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Defence | 24 | 6,693 |
| Culture Community | 8 | 5,972 |
| Other | 11 | 3,383 |
| Crime | 6 | 2,260 |
| Mp Performance | 7 | 2,051 |
| Economy Jobs | 18 | 2,027 |
| Cost Of Living | 6 | 1,955 |
| Social Care | 6 | 1,838 |
B · Notable divisions
Free votes, rebellions and high-salience whipped votes — the moments that distinguish this MP from the party machine. The full division-by-division record will follow once the per-MP archive is wired.
| Date | Division | Whip | MP voted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 2025 | Women’s State Pension age (Ombudsman report and compensation scheme): Ten Minute Rule MotionMPs voted on whether to allow a Bill to be introduced that would require the government to respond to the Ombudsman's findings on injustice … | Rebelled | No |
C · Speeches
| Date | Contribution | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Apr 2026 | Topical QuestionsWould the UK consider a state to be a democracy and would it continue normal diplomatic relations with that state were it to introduce a differential death penalty based on ethnici… DefenceEconomy JobsImmigration | 31 |
| 23 Mar 2026 | Middle EastWhy, alone among our European allies, is the UK facilitating Trump’s illegal war by allowing the United States to use RAF bases to launch attacks? The Government admitted last week… DefenceEnergyEconomy Jobs | 89 |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Strait of HormuzThe Government previously said that the United States could use UK airfields only for the specific and limited purposes of defending against Iran’s reckless attacks, yet we know th… DefenceEnergyCost Of Living | 102 |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble AddressNo matter how many Ministers the Government sent out over the weekend to try to spin their way out of this crisis, the story remains unchanged. The Prime Minister chose to ignore t… Mp PerformanceFiscal PolicyCrime | 102 |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Royal Mail: Universal Service ObligationWhether it is the failure of Royal Mail to meets its USO or the skyrocketing price of heating oil, it seems that rural communities, such as those in my constituency, are most impac… UtilitiesLabour MarketEconomy Jobs | 102 |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Digital ID: Public ConsultationIt seems that even in the middle of an existing cost of living crisis, with another one looming, the Government have decided to plough ahead with a digital ID scheme that few folks… Economy JobsOther | 78 |
| 05 Mar 2026 | Consular AssistanceOur thoughts are with those stranded in the region, and we wish them safe passage as soon as possible. I fear that this is the moment when the hollowing out of the UK’s consular su… DefenceCost Of LivingOther | 119 |
| 05 Mar 2026 | Civil Service Pension SchemeThe privatisation of the delivery of the civil service pension scheme has been nothing short of catastrophic. The Government were well warned that Capita was ill-prepared for a job… Economy JobsLabour Market | 93 |
| 02 Mar 2026 | Representation of the People BillAlthough it would be churlish to deny that this Bill is a step forward, it is important to look at what it is a step forward from. I am one of the few Members of the House who sat … Economy JobsCrimeCulture Community | 585 |
| 24 Feb 2026 | Andrew Mountbatten-WindsorThe answer is quite simple: nobody can be above the law. Everybody has to be equal in the eyes of the law. As the great Paul Flynn said, we have to remove the bandages from our mou… Mp PerformanceCulture CommunityCrime | 311 |
| 24 Feb 2026 | Andrew Mountbatten-WindsorThe release of the Epstein files has shone a light where so many people did not want a light to be shone. Even with millions of documents still to be released, it is abundantly cle… Mp PerformanceCulture CommunityCrime | 725 |
| 24 Feb 2026 | Andrew Mountbatten-WindsorThere is a slight irony here. We call ourselves the mother of Parliaments and the cradle of democracy, yet when it comes to an issue such as this we are bound by archaic rules that… Mp PerformanceCulture CommunityCrime | 153 |
| 24 Feb 2026 | Andrew Mountbatten-WindsorAbsolutely; I could not agree more. Isn’t it ridiculous that the King had to strip Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his titles and evict him from his home for us to be able to have th… Mp PerformanceCulture CommunityCrime | 101 |
| 23 Feb 2026 | Lord Mandelson: Government Response to Humble AddressRight now, trust in this chaotic Government has all but evaporated and the Prime Minister’s personal judgment is now on trial. We know that millions of documents are still to come … CrimeMp PerformanceOther | 95 |
| 05 Feb 2026 | Occupied Palestinian Territories: Genocide Risk AssessmentI beg to move, That this House has considered the obligation to assess the risk of genocide under international law in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Thank you, … DefenceCulture CommunityOther | 1,984 |
D · Written questions
Top departments
| Department | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 67 | 71.3% |
| Ministry of Defence | 14 | 14.9% |
| Department for Business and Trade | 5 | 5.3% |
| Home Office | 3 | 3.2% |
| Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 2 | 2.1% |
| Scotland Office | 2 | 2.1% |
| Cabinet Office | 1 | 1.1% |
Most recent
| Date | Department | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 2026 | Department for Business and Trade | To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how the Government aligns its climate commitments with continued support for investor–state dispute settlement provisions in bilateral investment treaties where such provisions may affec… | Pending |
| 22 Apr 2026 | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Government plans to support international efforts on addressing legal mechanisms that may hinder fossil fuel phase-out policies, in advance of the International Con… | Pending |
| 22 Apr 2026 | Department for Business and Trade | To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of investor–state dispute settlement provisions in the Colombia–UK Bilateral Investment Treaty on Colombia’s ability to im… | Pending |
| 15 Apr 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of recent Israeli legislation introducing the death penalty. | Pending |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what outcomes resulted from engagement with Mir Hazem Tahsin Beg in July 2025 in relation to (a) support for Yazidi communities and (b) the location of disappe… | Answered |
| 12 Mar 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to increase bilateral and multilateral humanitarian assistance to Lebanon. | Answered |
| 12 Mar 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to support unaccompanied and separated children in Lebanon. | Answered |
| 12 Mar 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help ensure unrestricted humanitarian access in Lebanon. | Answered |
| 12 Mar 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help secure a ceasefire in Lebanon. | Answered |
| 12 Mar 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the protection of civilians in Lebanon. | Answered |
| 09 Mar 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Government of Zimbabwe on the attack on Professor Madhuku and other political activists; and whether she is taking ste… | Answered |
| 23 Feb 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his contribution in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Debate, Hansard entry 5th February 2026, Column 523, whether the Government will publi… | Answered |
| 23 Feb 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his contribution in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Debate, Hansard entry 5th February 2026, Column 522, if he will publish the Government… | Answered |
| 23 Feb 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his contribution in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Debate, Hansard entry 5th February 2026, Column 522, if he will publish the assessment… | Answered |
| 04 Feb 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she had made representations to the Government of Malaysia on the detention and deportation of Rohingya refugees. | Answered |
E · Committees
No committee memberships recorded for this MP.
F · Expenses
Every business-cost claim reimbursed by IPSA in the current financial year, grouped by category. “Aggregated” rows are IPSA’s own year-end totals for cost types like payroll and rent that aren’t itemised claim-by-claim.
Category breakdown
| Category | Claims | Paid (£) | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Costs | 127 | 23,809 | 6.6% |
| Staffing | 2 | 250,784 | 69.5% |
| Accommodation | 33 | 28,941 | 8.0% |
| Miscellaneous | 3 | 1,199 | 0.3% |
| MP Travel | 0 | 31,561 | 8.7% |
| Staff Travel | 0 | 24,417 | 6.8% |
Top itemised cost types
| Cost type | Category | Claims | Paid (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pooled staffing services | Staffing | 1 | 8,900 |
| Mobile telephone - contract & usage | Office Costs | 13 | 6,927 |
| Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Office Costs | 12 | 2,083 |
| Software & applications | Office Costs | 29 | 1,958 |
| Stationery & printing | Office Costs | 23 | 1,945 |
| Pooled Staffing Services | Staffing | 1 | 1,800 |
| Utilities | Office Costs | 18 | 1,617 |
| Council tax | Accommodation | 7 | 1,328 |
| Removals | Miscellaneous | 3 | 1,199 |
| Equipment - purchase | Office Costs | 6 | 1,085 |
| Utilities | Accommodation | 23 | 1,045 |
| Insurance - contents | Office Costs | 1 | 895 |
Most recent
| Date | Category | Description | Paid (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 2025 | Staffing Pooled Staffing Services | Scottish National Party Research Team (SNP) | 1,800 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Software & applications | OPENAI CHATGPT SUBSCR [200011725-5942] [200011799-72] | 7 | Paid |
| 19 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Software & applications | ADOBE [200011725-6332] [200011799-73] | 39 | Paid |
| 19 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Utilities | Electricity | 38 | Paid |
| 12 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - contract & usage | EE LIMITED [200011725-5077] | 581 | Paid |
| 12 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Landline | 121 | Paid |
| 12 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Utilities | Electricity | 34 | Paid |
| 03 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Bought-in services | Administrative services | 192 | Paid |
| 03 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | CARTRIDGE SAVE [200011725-2000] | 112 | Paid |
| 02 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Software & applications | CANVA [***] | 200 | Paid |
| 20 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Software & applications | OPENAI CHATGPT SUBSCR | 20 | Paid |
| 19 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Office furniture | 99 | Paid |
| 19 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Software & applications | ADOBE | 85 | Paid |
| 14 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Bought-in services | Administrative services | 192 | Paid |
| 12 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 28 | Paid |
| 10 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Landline | 121 | Paid |
| 03 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - contract & usage | EE LIMITED | 521 | Paid |
| 22 Jan 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - contract & usage | EE LIMITED | 572 | Paid |
| 20 Jan 2025 | Office Costs Software & applications | OPENAI CHATGPT SUBSCR | 20 | Paid |
| 19 Jan 2025 | Office Costs Software & applications | ADOBE | 85 | Paid |
G · Register of interests
Every financial interest declared by the MP, grouped under the Register’s official categories. Retracted entries are hidden but counted above.
3. Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources2 entries
24 Feb 2026
Name of donor: Enersoft International Limited
Address of donor: 74 York Street, Suite 7-4, Glasgow G2 8JX
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Single ticket and matchday hospitality at Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund, value £900
Date received: 20 January 2026
Date accepted: 20 January 2026
Donor status: company, registration SC621728
(Registered 9 February 2026)
20 Jan 2026
Name of donor: Enersoft International Ltd
Address of donor: 74 York Street, Suite 7-4, Glasgow, G2 8JX
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Two tickets and hospitality for myself and a guest to attend the League Cup Final at Hampden Park, value £625
Date received: 14 December 2025
Date accepted: 14 December 2025
Donor status: company, registration SC621728
(Registered 8 January 2026; updated 5 February 2026)
4. Visits outside the UK2 entries
20 Jan 2026
Name of donor: International Human Rights Committee
Address of donor: Suite 23, 95 Miles Road, Mitcham, CR4 3FH
Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights (£885), hotels including breakfast in Thailand (£99), hotels including breakfast in Malaysia (£390), value £1,374
Destination of visit: Thailand and Malaysia
Dates of visit: 30 November 2025 to 6 December 2025
Purpose of visit: The purpose of the trip was ascertain the progress for refugees, including a lack of recognised refugee status, limited access to adequate healthcare and education, and restrictions on free religious worship.
(Registered 8 January 2026)
03 Jun 2025
Name of donor: Bellweather International
Address of donor: 694 E 230 N, Lindon, UT 84042
Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights: £3,014.42, hotel: $435.04, food: $32.64, value £3,362.75
Destination of visit: United States (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Dates of visit: 28 April 2025 to 30 April 2025
Purpose of visit: To speak to the International Human Rights and Freedom of Religion and Belief conference in the capacity of Chair of the APPG Genocide Prevention
(Registered 21 May 2025)
7. (i) Shareholdings: over 15% of issued share capital1 entry
18 Apr 2024
Name of company or organisation: Oh! Television (not trading)
Nature of business: Television production company
Additional information: I am a director of this company. It has not traded.
(Registered 11 January 2016)
8. Miscellaneous1 entry
18 Apr 2024
A Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. This is an unpaid role.
Date interest arose: 26 April 2021
(Registered 19 May 2021)
9. Family members employed and paid from parliamentary expenses1 entry
18 Apr 2024
Name: Catherine O'Hara
Relationship: Spouse
Role: Office Manager
Working pattern: Full time
(Registered 19 January 2016; updated 8 October 2020)
H · Ward results
Most recent winning councillor in each ward — 11 wards, 32 councillor seats.
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Votes | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowal | William Gordon Blair | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 1,090 | 05 May 2022 |
| Cowal | William Sinclair | Liberal Democrats | 551 | 05 May 2022 |
| Cowal | Yvonne McNeilly | Conservative and Unionist Party | 855 | 05 May 2022 |
| Dunoon | Audrey E Forrest | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 1,126 | 05 May 2022 |
| Dunoon | Daniel Hampsey | Conservative and Unionist Party | 493 | 05 May 2022 |
| Dunoon | Ross Moreland | Liberal Democrats | 464 | 05 May 2022 |
| Helensburgh Central | Fiona Howard | Labour Party | 841 | 05 May 2022 |
| Helensburgh Central | Gary Mulvaney | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,205 | 05 May 2022 |
| Helensburgh Central | Graham Archibald Hardie | Liberal Democrats | 440 | 05 May 2022 |
| Helensburgh Central | Ian James MacQuire | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 843 | 05 May 2022 |
| Helensburgh Lomond South | Gemma Penfold | Conservative and Unionist Party | 854 | 05 May 2022 |
| Helensburgh Lomond South | Math Campbell-Sturgess | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 749 | 05 May 2022 |
| Helensburgh Lomond South | Paul Donald Kennedy | Liberal Democrats | 512 | 05 May 2022 |
| Isle Of Bute | Liz McCabe | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 553 | 05 May 2022 |
| Isle Of Bute | Peter Wallace | Conservative and Unionist Party | 414 | 05 May 2022 |
| Isle Of Bute | Reeni Kennedy-Boyle | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 591 | 05 May 2022 |
| Kintyre The Islands | Anne Horn | Scottish National Party (SNP) | — | 18 Jul 2024 |
| Lomond North | Iain Shonny Paterson | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 777 | 05 May 2022 |
| Lomond North | Mark Irvine | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 475 | 05 May 2022 |
| Lomond North | Maurice Corry | Conservative and Unionist Party | 843 | 05 May 2022 |
| Mid Argyll | Douglas Trevor Philand | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 1,148 | 05 May 2022 |
| Mid Argyll | Garret Corner | Conservative and Unionist Party | 371 | 05 May 2022 |
| Mid Argyll | Jan Brown | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 993 | 05 May 2022 |
| Oban North Lorn | Andrew Vennard | Conservative and Unionist Party | 767 | 05 May 2022 |
| Oban North Lorn | Julie McKenzie | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 1,254 | 05 May 2022 |
| Oban North Lorn | Kieron Green | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 632 | 05 May 2022 |
| Oban North Lorn | Luna Erin Laventhia Martin | Green Party of England and Wales | 396 | 05 May 2022 |
| Oban South The Isles | Amanda Hampsey | Conservative and Unionist Party | 452 | 05 May 2022 |
| Oban South The Isles | Andrew Kain | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 295 | 05 May 2022 |
| Oban South The Isles | Jim Lynch | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 773 | 05 May 2022 |
| Oban South The Isles | Willie Hume | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 615 | 05 May 2022 |
| South Kintyre | Jennifer Mary Kelly | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | — | 02 Nov 2023 |
I · Demographics
Demographic profile unavailable for this constituency.
J · Public spending
HMT publishes headline spending identifiable by region in PESA. Constituency-level capital allocations (Levelling-Up Fund, Towns Fund, UKSPF, transport capital, BEIS R&D) are published as separate departmental datasets. We are evaluating the cleanest reconciliation for a per-constituency view.