Forest of Dean / data
Matt Bishop · Labour Party · sitting since 04 Jul 2024 · every division, speech and committee appearance.
Since election
660days
from 04 Jul 2024
Divisions
295
of 504 possible
Attendance
59%
209 absent / paired
Whip alignment
100%
vs party majority
Speeches
73
39 debates
Written Qs
105
105 answered
Committees
1
memberships
Expenses
£158k paid
FY 2024–2025 · 215 claims
Interests
7
3 categories
A · Overview
Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted — engagement only, not direction.
| Issue | Volume | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | 72 | |
| Economy | 62 | |
| Employment | 32 | |
| Crime & Policing | 28 | |
| Welfare and Benefits | 25 | |
| Education | 21 | |
| Constitution and Democracy | 18 | |
| Housing | 16 |
Speech topics
Words spoken, by topic. Source: Hansard.
| Topic | Debates | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Crime | 22 | 3,434 |
| Defence | 7 | 1,376 |
| Mp Performance | 5 | 1,334 |
| Economy Jobs | 8 | 1,204 |
| Other | 4 | 1,202 |
| Social Care | 4 | 1,025 |
| Fiscal Policy | 4 | 914 |
| Local Government | 4 | 267 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Dec 2024 | Elections (proportional representation): Ten Minute Rule Motion A vote on whether to allow a Bill to be introduced that would replace the current first-past-the-post voting system with proportional repres… | Free vote | No |
C · Speeches
| Date | Contribution | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Apr 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (Fifth sitting)We have heard from Opposition Members this morning about how defendants should have confidence in the system and about choice and being fair, whether it is in magistrates courts or… Crime | 108 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (Third sitting)The hon. Member is presenting her case, her argument, very well and eloquently. To pick up on one point, she said that there were no victims before the verdict, but I would argue t… Crime | 68 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Topical QuestionsT1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. HealthLocal Government | 11 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (Third sitting)Will the Minister give way? Crime | 5 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (Third sitting)I am proud to stand with the Minister and the Government on the Bill. Members on the Committee and in the Chamber have often used the terminology of “abolishing” jury trials. The d… Crime | 69 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Topical QuestionsA constituent of mine, Emma, has been left with significant injuries following poor maternity care during childbirth. For more than 20 years she has been fighting for, but has been… HealthLocal Government | 75 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (Fourth sitting)I am listening intently to what the hon. Gentleman is saying. How do the disclosure aspects he is talking about link to the amendment we are discussing? CrimeEconomy Jobs | 27 |
| 25 Mar 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q It is good to see you again, Claire. I echo everyone else’s comments about your very powerful evidence. You will remember that the last time you attended a debate in the Chamber,… CrimeEconomy JobsSocial Care | 272 |
| 25 Mar 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Thank you, and thank you for your service. My question is about the morale and mental health of police officers, as you might expect. It is not to the same level as victims, but wi… CrimeEconomy JobsSocial Care | 249 |
| 25 Mar 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (First sitting)Good morning, all. I welcome your work and the support that you offer victims—all of you, in what you have been doing. I am sure there is cross-party support for that in the room t… Crime | 380 |
| 25 Mar 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (First sitting)Q At the risk of sounding like a broken record, thank you to the panel for coming in. It is very brave of you to come and relive your stories and experiences. Following on from the… Crime | 207 |
| 25 Mar 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)Q Thank you for being here, Chief Constable. Before I ask my question, I should declare that I worked as a serving officer for three police forces across the country. Chief Constab… CrimeEconomy JobsSocial Care | 34 |
| 25 Mar 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill (Second sitting)I will keep it quick. I think we all agree that victims are very brave, and we know that the delays are having a massive effect on them. I think we all agree, too, that the measure… CrimeEconomy JobsSocial Care | 43 |
| 18 Mar 2026 | EngagementsAs the Prime Minister mentioned earlier, the chief executive officer of Travelodge has today again refused to attend a meeting with Members of this House and the other place to ans… Cost Of LivingDefenceHealth | 98 |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Justice Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1754)I am Matt Bishop, Member of Parliament for Forest of Dean. My interests are as declared. My previous occupation was as a serving police officer for three forces. Warinder Juss: Goo… | 67 |
D · Written questions
Top departments
| Department | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Social Care | 20 | 19.0% |
| Department for Education | 20 | 19.0% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 11 | 10.5% |
| Home Office | 10 | 9.5% |
| Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | 7 | 6.7% |
| Department for Transport | 7 | 6.7% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 5 | 4.8% |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 5 | 4.8% |
Most recent
| Date | Department | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Mar 2026 | Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what consideration she has given to repurposing social media algorithms whereby feeds recommend high-quality, age-appropriate content from a diverse range of trusted sour… | Answered |
| 12 Mar 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of (a) trends in the level of child morning hunger across early years, primary and secondary school settings and (b) the potential impact of child morning hunger on s… | Answered |
| 25 Feb 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 improve consular support for British nationals overseas. | Answered |
| 02 Feb 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action is being taken to address ongoing illegal tipping a) across the country, and b) in the Forest of Dean constituency. | Answered |
| 12 Jan 2026 | Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of making UK AISI / Thorn's guidance entitled Recommended Practice for AI-G CSEA Prevention, published in… | Answered |
| 07 Jan 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure specialist emotional and practical support is available for parents caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditio… | Answered |
| 18 Dec 2025 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to review the eligibility criteria for pupil premium funding so that all children from families receiving Universal Credit are entitled to support. | Answered |
| 20 Nov 2025 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that schools and teachers are well supported to deliver effective media and digital literacy education in the new curriculum. | Answered |
| 11 Nov 2025 | Treasury | To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the lower threshold of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy on (a) business investment decisions in the food and drink manufacturin… | Answered |
| 28 Oct 2025 | Home Office | To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of including (a) clear and (b) deliverable objectives to combat child (i) sexual abuse and (ii) exploitation in the updat… | Answered |
| 20 Oct 2025 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is available to GP practices operating from newly built premises that subsequently experience (a) building and (b) maintenance problems not identified at the (i) plannin… | Answered |
| 14 Oct 2025 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that pupil premium funding effectively supports the children it is provided for. | Answered |
| 13 Oct 2025 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department has provided to GP practices operating from newly built premises with (a) building and (b) maintenance issues; and what assessment he has made of the effe… | Answered |
| 22 Jul 2025 | Department for Business and Trade | To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what regulatory oversight is in place to ensure (a) (i) accurate and (ii) secure delivery in rural locations and (b) other basic standards of service by delivery companies. | Answered |
| 27 Jun 2025 | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what progress his Department has made on bringing forward legislative proposals to amend the Coal Industry Act 1994 to prohibit new coal extraction licences; and if he will ens… | Answered |
E · Committees
| Committee | Role | House | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice CommitteeSelect | Member | Commons | 17 Mar 2025 | present |
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 | 175 | 29,939 | 19.0% |
| Accommodation | 21 | 22,162 | 14.1% |
| Staffing | 1 | 96,826 | 61.4% |
| Miscellaneous | 2 | 431 | 0.3% |
| MP Travel | 0 | 5,027 | 3.2% |
| Staff Travel | 0 | 3,198 | 2.0% |
Top itemised cost types
| Cost type | Category | Claims | Paid (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Accommodation | 9 | 18,486 |
| Equipment - purchase | Office Costs | 24 | 9,985 |
| Rent | Office Costs | 9 | 6,430 |
| Stationery & printing | Office Costs | 91 | 3,946 |
| Software & applications | Office Costs | 6 | 3,425 |
| Pooled staffing services | Staffing | 1 | 3,000 |
| Utilities | Office Costs | 15 | 2,036 |
| Hotel - London | Accommodation | 3 | 1,376 |
| Council tax | Accommodation | 1 | 1,328 |
| Utilities | Accommodation | 1 | 769 |
| Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs | Office Costs | 3 | 703 |
| Moving Fees | Office Costs | 1 | 700 |
Most recent
| Date | Category | Description | Paid (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Dual Fuel | 216 | Paid |
| 11 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | XMA March 2025 | 205 | Paid |
| 11 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | XMA March 2025 | 205 | Paid |
| 11 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | XMA March 2025 | 205 | Paid |
| 11 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | XMA March 2025 | 167 | Paid |
| 09 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 2,760 | Paid |
| 09 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Water | 61 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Moving Fees | Legal costs | 700 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Miscellaneous Removals | Office Moving Fees [200011797-437] | 225 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Sundries | 12 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Water | 11 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Rent | 2024-25 [***] rent pro-rata | -1,514 | Paid |
| 28 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Internet | 29 | Paid |
| 26 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Rent | [***] | 120 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Rent | Rent | 2,500 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 88 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 83 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 51 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 43 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 36 | 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
29 Apr 2025
Name of donor: The Football Association Ltd
Address of donor: Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London SW1P 98Q
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Two tickets including hospitality to the England v Belgium Lionesses Nations League game at Ashton Gate, Bristol, value £410
Date received: 4 April 2025
Date accepted: 4 April 2025
Donor status: company, registration 00077797
(Registered 8 April 2025)
03 Jun 2025
Name of donor: The Football Association Ltd
Address of donor: Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London SW1P 98Q
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Two tickets including hospitality to the Women's FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Chelsea, value £470
Date received: 18 May 2025
Date accepted: 18 May 2025
Donor status: company, registration 00077797
(Registered 21 May 2025)
4. Visits outside the UK1 entry
17 Sept 2025
Name of donor: HM Government of Gibraltar
Address of donor: Gibraltar House, 150 Strand, London WC2R 1JA
Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights (£700), accommodation (£660) and meals (£400) for me and a staff member, value £1,760
Destination of visit: Gibraltar
Dates of visit: 8 September 2025 to 10 September 2025
Purpose of visit: Gibraltar National Day, as well as associated meetings and briefings
(Registered 15 September 2025)
8. Miscellaneous4 entries
24 Feb 2026
Director of PATA Nurseries. This is an unpaid role.
Date interest arose: 5 February 2026
(Registered 11 February 2026)
16 Aug 2024
Trustee of Earlybirds Playgroup. This is an unpaid role.
Date interest ended: 31 December 2025
(Registered 10 July 2024; updated 27 November 2025)
04 Nov 2025
Trustee of Harry's Pals charity. This is an unpaid role.
Date interest arose: 29 October 2025
(Registered 2 November 2025)
17 Jun 2025
Honorary Member of Daffodil Court Residents Association, Newent
Date interest arose: 5 June 2025
(Registered 10 June 2025)
H · Ward results
Most recent winning councillor in each ward — 22 wards, 40 councillor seats.
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Votes | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berry Hill | Jamie Elsmore | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 560 | 04 May 2023 |
| Berry Hill | Tim Gwilliam | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 571 | 04 May 2023 |
| Bream | Alison Jennifer Bruce | Green Party of England and Wales | 537 | 04 May 2023 |
| Bream | Beth Llewellyn | Green Party of England and Wales | 377 | 04 May 2023 |
| Cinderford East | Di Martin | Labour Party | 458 | 04 May 2023 |
| Cinderford East | Matt Bishop | Labour Party | 421 | 04 May 2023 |
| Cinderford West | Jacob Edward Sanders | Labour Party | 367 | 04 May 2023 |
| Cinderford West | Mark David Turner | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 359 | 04 May 2023 |
| Coleford | Clive Terence Elsmore | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 643 | 04 May 2023 |
| Coleford | Ian Whitburn | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 577 | 04 May 2023 |
| Coleford | Patrick Joseph Kyne | Labour Party | 619 | 04 May 2023 |
| Dymock | Gill Kilmurray | Liberal Democrats | 431 | 04 May 2023 |
| Hartpury Redmarley | Clayton Williams | Conservative and Unionist Party | 658 | 04 May 2023 |
| Hartpury Redmarley | Philip Howard Joseph Burford | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 759 | 04 May 2023 |
| Highnam With Haw Bridge | Jill Kate Smith | Conservative and Unionist Party | 912 | 04 May 2023 |
| Highnam With Haw Bridge | Paul Dermot McLain | Conservative and Unionist Party | 790 | 04 May 2023 |
| Longhope Huntley | David Stephen Tradgett | Green Party of England and Wales | 449 | 04 May 2023 |
| Longhope Huntley | John Charles Francis | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 465 | 04 May 2023 |
| Lydbrook | Syd Phelps | Green Party of England and Wales | 502 | 04 May 2023 |
| Lydney East | Alan Preest | Conservative and Unionist Party | 448 | 04 May 2023 |
| Lydney East | Andrew Raymond McDermid | Green Party of England and Wales | 440 | 04 May 2023 |
| Lydney East | James Arthur Bevan | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 441 | 04 May 2023 |
| Lydney North | Harry Joseph Ives | Conservative and Unionist Party | 483 | 04 May 2023 |
| Lydney West Aylburton | Mark Topping | Green Party of England and Wales | 512 | 04 May 2023 |
| Mitcheldean Ruardean Drybrook | Jackie Fraser | Green Party of England and Wales | 958 | 04 May 2023 |
| Mitcheldean Ruardean Drybrook | Shaun Stammers | Labour Party | 701 | 04 May 2023 |
| Mitcheldean Ruardean Drybrook | Trevor Benjamin Roach | Green Party of England and Wales | 816 | 04 May 2023 |
| Newent Taynton | Gill Moseley | Liberal Democrats | 1,044 | 04 May 2023 |
| Newent Taynton | Julia Denise Gooch | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 894 | 04 May 2023 |
| Newent Taynton | Julie Hudson | Liberal Democrats | 865 | 04 May 2023 |
| Newland Sling | David Andrew John Wheeler | Green Party of England and Wales | 409 | 04 May 2023 |
| Newnham | Andy Moore | Green Party of England and Wales | 744 | 04 May 2023 |
| Newnham | Richard William Burton | Green Party of England and Wales | 763 | 04 May 2023 |
| Pillowell | Jackie Dale | Green Party of England and Wales | 493 | 04 May 2023 |
| Ruspidge | Bernie O'Neill | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 230 | 04 May 2023 |
| St Briavels | Chris McFarling | Green Party of England and Wales | 650 | 04 May 2023 |
| Tidenham | Adrian Birch | Green Party of England and Wales | 977 | 04 May 2023 |
| Tidenham | Johnathan Lane | Green Party of England and Wales | 1,034 | 04 May 2023 |
| Tidenham | Nick Evans | Conservative and Unionist Party | 884 | 04 May 2023 |
| Westbury On Severn | Simon Charles Phelps | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 557 | 04 May 2023 |
I · Demographics
| Indicator | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021 Census) | 87,019 | Electorate 72,857 (2024) |
| Median age | 48 | years |
| Degree-educated | 28.8% | level 4 or above |
| Ethnicity (White) | 97.5% | 2021 Census ethnic group |
| Owner-occupied | 73.5% | households |
| Private-rented | 13.5% | households |
| Social-rented | 13.0% | households |
| Employment rate | 54.7% | 16-64 in work |
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.