London · England · 80,027Boundary · 2023

Brent West

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Created in the 2023 boundary review, replacing Brent North.

Dispatch
Apr 2026

Won by Lab in its first election in 2024 by 9.2%. Centred on Brent. Population 131,716, notably young (median age 35 vs 41 nationally), a majority-minority constituency.

One of Labour's more independent voices on welfare, Barry Gardiner broke ranks with his party three times on 9 July 2025 to oppose the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill -- voting against both Clauses 2 and 3 at committee stage and against the Bill at Third Reading. He also backed a left-wing rebel amendment to protect Northern Ireland's LCWRA claimants from inflation-eroding cuts. His voting data places him 55 percentage points above the Labour average on anti-benefit-cuts measures and 59 points above on disability benefits protection -- making him one of the more consistent defenders of welfare entitlements on the government benches. He also split from the party majority twice during the assisted dying bill's committee stage in June 2025.

At 61% participation, Gardiner votes less frequently than the Commons average, though his 95.9% party alignment means he remains broadly loyal when he does turn up. His 147 contributions across 87 debates show genuine parliamentary activity, with economy and jobs, environment, local government, and defence dominating his speeches. He sits on the Environmental Audit Committee, consistent with environment ranking as his second most frequent speech topic. His stance profile shows a clear pattern: strongly pro-workers' rights and progressive taxation, but notably low on pro-business and parliamentary scrutiny measures.

296
Commons votes
This parliament
£28k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
80.0k
Electorate
2024 GE

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review.

Current Member of Parliament

Barry Gardiner

Barry Gardiner

Labour Party

Barry Gardiner is the Labour MP for Brent West, and has been an MP continually since 1 May 1997.

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

Vote on a technical amendment (New Clause 8) to ensure that Universal Credit payments for claimants in the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) group in Northern Ireland rise in line with inflation, supporting a separate duty on the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. The amendment was backed by left-wing Labour rebels and crossbench MPs opposed to welfare cuts affecting the most vulnerable.

MP voted YesAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

Vote on whether Clauses 2 and 3 of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill should remain part of the Bill. These clauses relate to changes to Universal Credit and PIP eligibility or rates, with the vote determining whether the government's welfare reform proposals proceed through committee stage.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

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Voting at a Glance

Won by Lab in its first election in 2024 by 9.2%. Centred on Brent. Population 131,716, notably young (median age 35 vs 41 nationally), a majority-minority constituency.

2024 General Election

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

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

§ 07The record, at a glance.310 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Gardiner 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
69
Economy
64
Employment
33
Crime & Policing
21
Education
21
Welfare and Benefits
18
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 Independence Payment Bill Committee: New Clause 809 Jul 2025
Aye
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Committee: Clause 2, as amended, and Clause 3 stand part09 Jul 2025
No
§ 08The local picture.10 wards

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

WardCouncillorVotesParty
AlpertonAnton Georgiou2,108Liberal
AlpertonBhagwanji Chohan1,871Labour P
AlpertonHannah Matin1,703Liberal
BarnhillKathleen Fraser1,410Labour P
BarnhillRobert Orville Johnson1,270Labour P
KentonMichael Maurice2,047Conserva
KentonSunita Hirani2,287Conserva
KentonSuresh Kansagra2,165Conserva
Northwick ParkDiana Collymore1,543Labour P
Northwick ParkNarinder Singh Bajwa1,638Labour P
PrestonDaniel Kennelly1,532Labour P
PrestonOrleen Andrea Shaw Hylton1,417Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
131,716
Electorate 80,027 · 2024 register
Median income
£27,800
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
37.6%
England average 20.0%
Schools
32
17 primary · 7 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.