Scotland · 71,845Boundary · 2023

Cowdenbeath & Kirkcaldy

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Created in the 2023 boundary review, replacing Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.

Dispatch
Apr 2026

Won by Lab in its first election in 2024.

Melanie Ward's most notable parliamentary moment came in June 2025, when she broke with her party five times on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill -- voting against its final passage and opposing amendments that would have liberalised the assisted dying framework, while backing amendments aimed at adding greater restrictions. Her opposition to assisted dying places her significantly to the left of her parliamentary party on this issue (13% aligned vs. a Labour average of 59%). Beyond Westminster, Ward made headlines in early 2026 when she personally visited a Kirkcaldy Islamic centre following a racist attack and publicly condemned the abuse, despite receiving threats herself -- coverage that has been consistently positive across local and national outlets.

A 97% party-line voter overall, Ward is nonetheless notably less aligned with her party on regulatory matters and criminal justice reform, while being fully in step on taxation, the government's budget, and the broader government agenda. Her participation rate of 75% sits below the Commons average. Her speech activity leans heavily toward defence, the economy, and health, and she has spoken on social care and cost-of-living issues. She has no current committee membership. Local news coverage over the past 90 days -- 16 articles averaging a strong 0.74 sentiment score -- has focused on crime, community issues, and constituency casework, including a first-year review crediting her with securing regeneration funding and resolving over 2,500 constituent cases.

348
Commons votes
This parliament
£27k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
71.8k
Electorate
2024 GE

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review.

Current Member of Parliament

Melanie Ward

Melanie Ward

Labour Party

Melanie Ward is the Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.

Notable Votes

A procedural vote on whether to allow New Clause 16 to be formally considered as part of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at Report Stage, after proceedings had been interrupted on 13 June when an objection was raised. The debate excerpts do not reveal the substantive content of New Clause 16.

MP voted YesAgainst party majority

MPs voted on the Third Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill — the final Commons vote on whether to pass the assisted dying legislation in its amended form. Passing Third Reading sends the Bill to the House of Lords.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

Vote on whether to prevent someone from qualifying as 'terminally ill' under the assisted dying bill solely because they have voluntarily stopped eating and drinking. The amendment aimed to close a potential loophole where a person might use self-starvation to meet the terminal illness criteria they would not otherwise meet.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

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Voting at a Glance

Won by Lab in its first election in 2024.

2024 General Election

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

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

§ 07The record, at a glance.376 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Ward 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
87
Economy
73
Employment
40
Crime & Policing
33
Education
31
Constitution and Democracy
29
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: New Clause 1620 Jun 2025 · free vote
Aye
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Third Reading20 Jun 2025 · free vote
No
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Amendment 9420 Jun 2025 · free vote
No
§ 08The local picture.7 wards

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

WardCouncillorVotesParty
Burntisland Kinghorn Western KirkcaldyJulie MacDougall1,730Labour P
Burntisland Kinghorn Western KirkcaldyKathleen Leslie1,239Conserva
Burntisland Kinghorn Western KirkcaldyLesley Backhouse1,735Scottish
CowdenbeathAlex Campbell2,028Labour P
CowdenbeathAlie Bain1,916Scottish
CowdenbeathBailey-Lee Robb513Scottish
CowdenbeathDarren Watt1,256Conserva
Dunfermline NorthAuxi Barrera1,350Scottish
Dunfermline NorthGavin Ellis1,017Conserva
Dunfermline NorthGordon Pryde1,627Labour P
Inverkeithing Dalgety BayDave Dempsey1,355Conserva
Inverkeithing Dalgety BayDavid John Barratt2,187Scottish
Median income
£27,000
HMRC SPI 2024
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