Northern Ireland · 73,302Boundary · 2023

East Antrim

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

A marginal seat — won by just 1,306 votes (3.3%) in 2024.

One of Westminster's most vocal unionist voices, Sammy Wilson broke with his own DUP colleagues twice in July 2025 -- voting against statutory instruments on merger regulation and newspaper definition rules that the party backed -- and earlier opposed a government clause strengthening the Renters' Rights Bill. More damagingly, he was investigated by the parliamentary standards commissioner after failing to declare a relevant interest when tabling a question; he subsequently apologised publicly. A libel settlement in 2023, after he admitted making an incorrect claim about Sinn Féin and the RHI scandal, added to questions about his public statements. On substantive policy, he has consistently sided with opposition positions on employer National Insurance rises, backed Lords amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill, and supported the pro-North Sea oil and gas motion in March 2026.

Wilson votes with the DUP on 99% of divisions but participates in only 55% of them -- below the Commons average -- meaning his overall footprint in the division lobbies is limited despite his rhetorical activity. He is a hardline opponent of tax increases (100% aligned) and the government's budget (0% support), and consistently backs parliamentary and Lords scrutiny against the executive. His 48 speech contributions span economy and jobs, defence, immigration, and crime, reflecting a broad-front opposition role rather than narrow specialism.

254
Commons votes
This parliament
73.3k
Electorate
2024 GE

DUP held for 5 consecutive elections.

Current Member of Parliament

Sammy Wilson

Sammy Wilson

Democratic Unionist Party

The Rt Hon Sammy Wilson is the Democratic Unionist Party MP for East Antrim, and has been an MP continually since 5 May 2005.

Notable Votes

MPs voted on a Statutory Instrument to amend Section 58 of the Enterprise Act 2002, which governs the grounds on which the government can intervene in business mergers on public interest grounds. This order adds or adjusts specific considerations the Secretary of State may use to scrutinise or block deals affecting national interests.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

Vote to approve a government order updating the legal definition of 'newspaper' under the Enterprise Act 2002 to include online-only news publishers, ensuring merger rules that protect media plurality apply to digital news outlets as well as traditional print titles.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

Vote on a government amendment to the Renters' Rights Bill that would cap the amount of rent a landlord can require tenants to pay in advance before a tenancy begins, limiting it to one month's rent. This protects renters — particularly those on lower incomes — from being priced out of tenancies by large upfront rent demands.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

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Voting at a Glance

A marginal seat — won by just 1,306 votes (3.3%) in 2024.

2024 General Election

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

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

§ 07The record, at a glance.267 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Wilson 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
72
Economy
63
Employment
35
Crime & Policing
26
Defence and Foreign Affairs
19
Energy
19
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Enterprise Act 2002 (Amendment of Section 58 Considerations) Order 2025 (SI, 2025, No. 737)16 Jul 2025 · free vote
No
Draft Enterprise Act 2002 (Definition of Newspaper) Order 202516 Jul 2025 · free vote
No
Renters' Rights Bill Report Stage: Government New Clause 1414 Jan 2025 · free vote
No
§ 08The local picture.Northern Ireland

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

Local-government election data has not yet been ingested for this constituency.

Next · dig deeperEvery division, question, speech and committee record

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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.