Gainsborough / data
Sir Edward Leigh · Conservative and Unionist Party · sitting since 09 Jun 1983 · every division, speech and committee appearance.
Since election
15661days
from 09 Jun 1983
Divisions
320
of 504 possible
Attendance
63%
184 absent / paired
Whip alignment
100%
vs party majority
Speeches
246
149 debates
Written Qs
21
20 answered
Committees
1
memberships
Expenses
£217k paid
FY 2024–2025 · 102 claims
Interests
3
3 categories
A · Overview
Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted — engagement only, not direction.
| Issue | Volume | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | 82 | |
| Economy | 66 | |
| Crime & Policing | 40 | |
| Employment | 34 | |
| Education | 23 | |
| Constitution and Democracy | 22 | |
| Welfare and Benefits | 20 | |
| Pensions | 20 |
Speech topics
Words spoken, by topic. Source: Hansard.
| Topic | Debates | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Defence | 59 | 13,355 |
| Economy Jobs | 55 | 12,454 |
| Crime | 37 | 8,265 |
| Culture Community | 20 | 7,833 |
| Social Care | 23 | 6,567 |
| Local Government | 24 | 6,362 |
| Other | 13 | 5,072 |
| Energy | 18 | 4,424 |
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.
No notable votes recorded for this MP yet.
C · Speeches
| Date | Contribution | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 2026 | Crime and Policing BillFly-tipping is very important, but can I refer my hon. Friend to a matter of life and death? As a result of Lords amendment 361 and the amendments to it, somebody who illegally pro… CrimeTechnologyCulture Community | 151 |
| 13 Apr 2026 | Middle EastThe Prime Minister may recall that on day one of this war, I supported his defensive attitude to it and said that we could not change the regime from the air. We agreed and he has … DefenceEnergyCost Of Living | 126 |
| 26 Mar 2026 | Rail Renationalisation: East of EnglandNationalisation was supposed to put local communities in touch. Grimsby is the largest town in the east of England without a direct train to London. We have been campaigning for on… Transport | 144 |
| 26 Mar 2026 | Local Government ReorganisationLincolnshire is such a huge county geographically that there is no enthusiasm for abolishing districts. Be that as it may, the Government are determined to override local residents… Local GovernmentHousingEconomy Jobs | 113 |
| 25 Mar 2026 | EngagementsOn a point of order, Mr Speaker. May I refer you to paragraph 22.9 of “Erskine May”, which stresses the primary importance of ministerial responsibility? We have to admit that Prim… EnergyCost Of LivingLocal Government | 99 |
| 24 Mar 2026 | DefenceI have listened carefully to this debate, which has been an interesting knockabout. On the question of what we are achieving, I refer the Minister back to the comments of the hon. … DefenceFiscal PolicyEconomy Jobs | 175 |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Middle East: Economic UpdateIn an attempt to get some consensus here, I commend one part of the Chancellor’s statement, where she said: “We must guarantee that our domestic oil and gas industry can…play a rol… EnergyCost Of LivingEconomy Jobs | 129 |
| 23 Mar 2026 | Hatzola Ambulance AttackOn an occasion like this, it is right that we should not apportion blame, but try to unite as the House of Commons and say that it is fine to be a critical friend of Israel, but it… CrimeCulture CommunityDefence | 110 |
| 23 Mar 2026 | Asylum Seekers: Recorded Crime1. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the number of asylum seekers on levels of recorded crime. ImmigrationCrime | 21 |
| 23 Mar 2026 | Asylum Seekers: Recorded CrimeThe Home Secretary knows perfectly well how much it worries and infuriates people that people can enter this country illegally and commit crimes, and that there is no proper vettin… ImmigrationCrime | 87 |
| 19 Mar 2026 | Courts and Tribunals Bill10. Whether the Attorney General has advised the Lord Chancellor on the potential impact of the Courts and Tribunals Bill on the rule of law. CrimeEconomy Jobs | 25 |
| 19 Mar 2026 | Courts and Tribunals BillIt is obviously outrageous that rape victims have to wait three years—we all accept that, and we have heard moving testimony on that. The problem is that the Institute for Governme… CrimeEconomy Jobs | 84 |
| 19 Mar 2026 | UK Steel StrategyI suspect that the problems of Scunthorpe, where many of my constituents work, are less to do with the anti-protectionist policies of Mrs Thatcher—given that she left office 36 yea… Economy JobsEnergyDefence | 143 |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Freedom of Religion or Belief in ChinaThe devil is in the detail. When it comes to China, everything is very complicated; there are no simple arguments or solutions. This is not an outright communist regime like North … Culture CommunityDefenceOther | 70 |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Freedom of Religion or Belief in ChinaI am co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group on the Holy See, and therefore I go regularly to the Vatican to talk to Archbishop Gallagher, the Foreign Minister of the Vatican… Culture CommunityDefenceOther | 96 |
D · Written questions
Top departments
| Department | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 11 | 52.4% |
| Ministry of Defence | 3 | 14.3% |
| Home Office | 2 | 9.5% |
| Treasury | 1 | 4.8% |
| Cabinet Office | 1 | 4.8% |
| Wales Office | 1 | 4.8% |
| Department for Transport | 1 | 4.8% |
| Department of Health and Social Care | 1 | 4.8% |
Most recent
| Date | Department | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 2026 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to support the humanitarian aspects of the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. | Pending |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Ministry of Defence | To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of Exchequer on meeting the NATO target of spending five per cent of GDP on defence and national security. | Answered |
| 03 Mar 2026 | Home Office | To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to establish a community liaison group, to be attended by the Home Office and representatives of residents, including local MPs, councillors, Crowborough Shield & othe… | Answered |
| 10 Nov 2025 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Chinese counterparts on the detention of Pastor Jin Mingri; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure… | Answered |
| 03 Nov 2025 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken with international counterparts to help ensure the protection of Christian communities in Yemen. | Answered |
| 27 Oct 2025 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken with her international counterparts to help ensure the protection of Christian communities in Eritrea. | Answered |
| 21 Oct 2025 | Wales Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on strengthening the Union. | Answered |
| 20 Oct 2025 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Egyptian counterparts on the potential impact of the inclusion of religious affiliation on national identity cards… | Answered |
| 15 Oct 2025 | Cabinet Office | To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans his Department has to mark the 200th anniversary of Catholic emancipation. | Answered |
| 15 Sept 2025 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Government of Uzbekistan on the (a) treatment of Christians and (b) reports of (i) arbitrary arrests and (ii) forced marr… | Answered |
| 09 Sept 2025 | Home Office | To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the reason for the increased number of asylum seekers in hotels on 30 June 2025 compared with the same date in 2024. | Answered |
| 02 Sept 2025 | Ministry of Defence | To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the UK’s amphibious capabilities. | Answered |
| 15 Jul 2025 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken in response to the persecution of Baha’i and Christian communities in Iran. | Answered |
| 09 Jul 2025 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Colombian counterpart on the forced disappearance of eight people in Guaviare Department on 4 and 5 April 2025; and whe… | Answered |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to monitor UK funding in the People's Republic of China; and how much has been allocated to the provinces of (a) Tibet and (b) Xinjiang… | Answered |
E · Committees
| Committee | Role | House | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panel of ChairsSelect | Member | Commons | 30 Jul 2024 | 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 | 49 | 8,666 | 4.0% |
| Accommodation | 43 | 6,630 | 3.1% |
| MP Travel | 0 | 5,538 | 2.6% |
| Staff Travel | 0 | 718 | 0.3% |
| Staffing | 0 | 195,220 | 90.1% |
Top itemised cost types
| Cost type | Category | Claims | Paid (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pooled staffing services | Office Costs | 2 | 5,263 |
| Council tax | Accommodation | 10 | 2,597 |
| Utilities | Accommodation | 22 | 2,536 |
| Stationery & printing | Office Costs | 14 | 1,022 |
| Insurance - buildings | Accommodation | 1 | 997 |
| Mobile telephone - equipment purchase | Office Costs | 6 | 703 |
| Bought-in services | Office Costs | 2 | 638 |
| Website hosting and design | Office Costs | 2 | 516 |
| Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Accommodation | 10 | 501 |
| Newspapers, journals, magazines | Office Costs | 12 | 307 |
| Mobile telephone - contract & usage | Office Costs | 11 | 217 |
Most recent
| Date | Category | Description | Paid (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - contract & usage | Constituency Mobile and Plan March 2025 | 11 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 41 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 1 | Paid |
| 13 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Newspapers, journals, magazines | Daily Telegraph online Subscription 9/03/25 paid by Direct Debit 13/03/25 | 25 | Paid |
| 07 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - equipment purchase | Purchase to renew office Mobile case | 27 | Paid |
| 07 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - equipment purchase | Purchase to renew office Mobile charger | 19 | Paid |
| 07 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - equipment purchase | Purchase to renew Office Mobile Case | 1 | Paid |
| 06 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - equipment purchase | Purchase to renew office Mobile | 555 | Paid |
| 06 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - equipment purchase | Purchase to renew Office Mobile | 44 | Paid |
| 26 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - contract & usage | Constituency Mobile and Plan Feb 25 | 21 | Paid |
| 13 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Newspapers, journals, magazines | Daily Telegraph online subscription 9/02/25 paid by direct debit on 14/02/25 | 25 | Paid |
| 26 Jan 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - contract & usage | Constituency Mobile and Plan Jan 25 | 21 | Paid |
| 20 Jan 2025 | Office Costs Bought-in services | Parliamentary accountancy | 498 | Paid |
| 20 Jan 2025 | Office Costs Website hosting and design | Annual Payment for Bluetree Website Payment for November 2024 to October 2025 inclusive | 360 | Paid |
| 20 Jan 2025 | Office Costs Mobile telephone - equipment purchase | Mobile phone Charger Leads | 57 | Paid |
| 15 Jan 2025 | Office Costs Newspapers, journals, magazines | Daily Telegraph online subscription 9/01/25 paid by direct debit on 14/01/25 | 25 | Paid |
| 07 Jan 2025 | Accommodation Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Landline & internet package | 53 | Paid |
| 03 Jan 2025 | Accommodation Utilities | Electricity | 65 | Paid |
| 02 Jan 2025 | Accommodation Utilities | Other fuel | 34 | Paid |
| 01 Jan 2025 | Accommodation Council tax | 10th and final Payment for Council Tax by Direct Debit | 260 | 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.
4. Visits outside the UK1 entry
04 Nov 2025
Name of donor: (1) APPG Italy (2) Italian Inter Parliamentary Union
Address of donor: (1) House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA (2) Piazza Montecitorio, 00186 ROMA
Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): (1) Meals for myself and my staff member (£180.58), taxis for myself and my staff member (56.60), value £237.18 (2) Tour of the Colosseum for myself and my staff memeber (£113.20) and lunch for myself (£47.76), value £160.96
Destination of visit: Italy (Rome)
Dates of visit: 5 October 2025 to 8 October 2025
Purpose of visit: Fostering closer relations between Italy and the United Kingdom
(Registered 3 November 2025)
8. Miscellaneous1 entry
18 Apr 2024
Barrister, not currently practising.
(Registered 22 May 2015)
9. Family members employed and paid from parliamentary expenses1 entry
18 Apr 2024
Name: Mary Leigh
Relationship: Spouse
Role: Office Manager
Working pattern: Full time
H · Ward results
Most recent winning councillor in each ward — 20 wards, 36 councillor seats.
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Votes | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bardney | Ian Gordon Fleetwood | Conservative and Unionist Party | 439 | 04 May 2023 |
| Caistor Yarborough | Angela Lawrence | Conservative and Unionist Party | 699 | 04 May 2023 |
| Caistor Yarborough | Owen Bierley | Conservative and Unionist Party | 726 | 04 May 2023 |
| Cherry Willingham | Chris Darcel | Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First | 918 | 04 May 2023 |
| Cherry Willingham | Maureen Palmer | Conservative and Unionist Party | 740 | 04 May 2023 |
| Cherry Willingham | Trevor John Bridgwood | Conservative and Unionist Party | 741 | 04 May 2023 |
| Dunholme Welton | Di Rodgers | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 906 | 04 May 2023 |
| Dunholme Welton | Paul Swift | Liberal Democrats | 1,038 | 04 May 2023 |
| Dunholme Welton | Sabastian Hussamah Hague | Liberal Democrats | 909 | 04 May 2023 |
| Gainsborough East | David Dobbie | Liberal Democrats | 397 | 04 May 2023 |
| Gainsborough East | Jacob William Flear | Liberal Democrats | 382 | 04 May 2023 |
| Gainsborough East | Matt Boles | Liberal Democrats | 534 | 04 May 2023 |
| Gainsborough North | Jim Snee | Liberal Democrats | 622 | 04 May 2023 |
| Gainsborough North | Mandy Snee | Liberal Democrats | 555 | 04 May 2023 |
| Gainsborough North | Paul Michael Key | Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First | 585 | 04 May 2023 |
| Gainsborough South West | Jeanette Susan McGhee | Liberal Democrats | 477 | 04 May 2023 |
| Gainsborough South West | Trevor Victor Young | Liberal Democrats | 551 | 04 May 2023 |
| Hemswell | Paul Howitt-Cowan | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 307 | 04 May 2023 |
| Kelsey Wold | Peter David Morris | Conservative and Unionist Party | 565 | 06 May 2021 |
| Lea | Emma Frances Bailey | Liberal Democrats | 356 | 04 May 2023 |
| Market Rasen | Eve Lillian Bennett | Liberal Democrats | 1,041 | 04 May 2023 |
| Market Rasen | Moira Kathryn Westley | Liberal Democrats | 859 | 04 May 2023 |
| Market Rasen | Stephen Bunney | Liberal Democrats | 1,539 | 04 May 2023 |
| Nettleham | Frazer John Brown | Conservative and Unionist Party | 593 | 04 May 2023 |
| Nettleham | John Stephen Barrett | Conservative and Unionist Party | 641 | 04 May 2023 |
| Saxilby | Jackie Brockway | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,055 | 04 May 2023 |
| Saxilby | Paul Martin Lee | Conservative and Unionist Party | 851 | 04 May 2023 |
| Scampton | Roger Patterson | Conservative and Unionist Party | 298 | 04 May 2023 |
| Scotter Blyton | Karen Lynn Carless | Liberal Democrats | 884 | 04 May 2023 |
| Scotter Blyton | Lesley Rollings | Liberal Democrats | 1,037 | 04 May 2023 |
| Scotter Blyton | Liz Clews | Liberal Democrats | 970 | 04 May 2023 |
| Stow | Lynda Marie Mullally | Liberal Democrats | 387 | 04 May 2023 |
| Sudbrooke | Baptiste Velan | Liberal Democrats | 370 | 04 May 2023 |
| Torksey | Roger Alan Pilgrim | Conservative and Unionist Party | 438 | 04 May 2023 |
| Waddingham Spital | Adam Matthew Duguid | Conservative and Unionist Party | 375 | 04 May 2023 |
| Wold View | Tom Smith | Conservative and Unionist Party | 342 | 04 May 2023 |
I · Demographics
| Indicator | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021 Census) | 95,132 | Electorate 75,836 (2024) |
| Median age | 48 | years |
| Degree-educated | 29.3% | level 4 or above |
| Ethnicity (White) | 97.0% | 2021 Census ethnic group |
| Owner-occupied | 71.2% | households |
| Private-rented | 17.9% | households |
| Social-rented | 10.9% | households |
| Employment rate | 53.3% | 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.