North West · England · 73,037Boundary · 2023

Bootle

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

A safe Lab seat, won with 69% of the vote in 2024. Covers Bootle (Sefton), Crosby (Sefton) and Litherland. Population 103,300. Median income £25K (below average).

One of the more notable rebellions in Labour's recent welfare debates, Dowd voted against his own party at both Second and Third Reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill in July 2025 -- joining a substantial group of Labour MPs who refused to back controversial cuts to disability benefits. He also backed a Conservative reasoned amendment designed to block the bill outright, a rare step that placed him firmly in the rebel camp on what became one of the most contested pieces of legislation of this parliament. Beyond welfare, he has been publicly championing a four-day working week without pay cuts, tabling a parliamentary amendment in early 2025 and attracting BBC coverage on the issue, and he has spoken out specifically for Bootle constituents on the delayed A5036 road upgrade and on bereavement support for MPs following a personal loss.

Outside those flashpoints, Dowd is a broadly loyal backbencher -- voting with Labour 99% of the time across 353 of 466 divisions, a participation rate of 76% that sits somewhat below the Commons average. He consistently backs progressive taxation, the government's budget agenda, and workers' rights measures, while his stance data shows zero alignment with pro-business or anti-regulatory positions. His speech activity has been modest -- four contributions since the last election, focused primarily on social care, health, and housing.

353
Commons votes
This parliament
£25k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
73.0k
Electorate
2024 GE

Lab held for 5 consecutive elections.

Current Member of Parliament

Peter Dowd

Peter Dowd

Labour Party

Peter Dowd is the Labour MP for Bootle, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015.

Notable Votes

MPs voted on whether to pass the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at its final stage in the Commons. The Bill makes changes to welfare benefits, including a gradual increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance, and had been debated at length including proposed amendments to speed up or expand those increases.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

MPs voted on whether to give the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill a Second Reading, allowing it to progress through Parliament. This bill proposes significant changes to the welfare system, including reforms to how disability benefits (PIP) are assessed and restrictions on who qualifies for the health-related component of Universal Credit.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

MPs voted on a 'reasoned amendment' at the Second Reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill — a procedural move by the opposition to block the bill from progressing, signalling rejection of the government's proposed welfare reforms. The bill seeks to make changes to Universal Credit and PIP (Personal Independence Payment) eligibility and assessments.

MP voted YesAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

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Voting at a Glance

A safe Lab seat, won with 69% of the vote in 2024. Covers Bootle (Sefton), Crosby (Sefton) and Litherland. Population 103,300. Median income £25K (below average).

2024 General Election

§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Dowd’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.353 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Dowd has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
89
Economy
84
Employment
49
Education
33
Crime & Policing
32
Welfare and Benefits
23
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill: Third Reading09 Jul 2025
No
Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill: Second Reading01 Jul 2025
No
Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill: Reasoned Amendment at Second Reading01 Jul 2025
Aye
§ 08The local picture.8 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
ChurchNeil Anthony Doolin1,412Green Pa
DerbyMaria Porter1,580Labour P
FordPaulette Lappin1,541Labour P
LinacreJim Conalty2,850Labour P
LitherlandPaula Murphy1,526Labour P
Netherton OrrellTom Spring1,637Labour P
St OswaldHelen Duerden828Labour P
VictoriaMichael Roche2,386Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
103,300
Electorate 73,037 · 2024 register
Median income
£25,000
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
18.9%
England average 20.0%
Schools
47
29 primary · 5 secondary
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More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.