North East · England · 78,448Boundary · 2023

Houghton & Sunderland South

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

Represented by Lab since 2024. Covers Sunderland, Shiney Row and Penshaw and Houghton-le-Spring. Population 99,489. Recorded crime is 54% below the national average. Median income £25K (below average).

As Secretary of State for Education, Phillipson has been one of the more prominent Cabinet ministers in recent months -- championing a revival of Sure Start children's centres, pushing through a tuition fee rise for universities, and launching a deputy leadership bid in autumn 2025, where she secured early trade union backing from Usdaw. Her most striking parliamentary divergence from government has been on assisted dying: she voted against the Terminally Ill Adults Bill at both Second and Third Reading, and backed a wrecking amendment at Report Stage, placing her consistently among the minority of Labour MPs opposing the legislation on what was a free vote.

Her voting participation rate of 37% -- well below the Commons average -- reflects the reality of a senior Cabinet minister whose time is dominated by departmental work rather than the division lobbies. When she does vote, she is a near-total party loyalist at 98%, backing the government on employer National Insurance rises, the Finance Bill, and Lords amendments across the board. Her stance profile shows a stronger-than-average Labour lean on workers' rights and fiscal responsibility. Speech activity has been heavily concentrated on education, social care, and cost-of-living themes, consistent with her ministerial brief.

174
Commons votes
This parliament
£25k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
78.4k
Electorate
2024 GE

Lab held for 5 consecutive elections.

Current Member of Parliament

Bridget Phillipson

Bridget Phillipson

Labour Party

The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson is the Labour MP for Houghton and Sunderland South, and has been an MP continually since 6 May 2010. She currently holds the Government posts of Secretary of State for Education, and Minister for Women and Equalities.

Notable Votes

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 allow employers who opt out of providing assisted dying to also prohibit their employees from participating in assisted dying while working for them. This amendment to the Terminally Ill Adults Bill would let, for example, a religious hospice or care home prevent its staff from facilitating assisted dying even if the individual healthcare worker personally wished to do so.

MP voted YesAgainst party majority
Closure motion16 May 2025

A closure motion was voted on to end debate and force an immediate vote on the matter under discussion. Closure motions are a procedural tool used to curtail further debate; passing one (288 Ayes vs 239 Noes) meant the House moved directly to a division on the substantive question.

MP voted NoAgainst party majority

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Voting at a Glance

Represented by Lab since 2024. Covers Sunderland, Shiney Row and Penshaw and Houghton-le-Spring. Population 99,489. Recorded crime is 54% below the national average. Median income £25K (below average).

2024 General Election

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

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

§ 07The record, at a glance.204 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Phillipson 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
39
Education
33
Economy
32
Schools
21
Employment
20
Constitution and Democracy
18
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Third Reading20 Jun 2025 · free vote
No
Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Report Stage: Amendment (a) to New Clause 1016 May 2025 · free vote
Aye
Closure motion16 May 2025 · free vote
No
§ 08The local picture.9 wards

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

WardCouncillorVotesParty
Copt HillKevin Johnston1,432Labour P
DoxfordPaul Wilfred Leslie Gibson1,441Liberal
HettonJames Blackburn1,153Labour P
HoughtonJohn Price1,692Labour P
SandhillPaul Edgeworth1,318Liberal
Shiney RowKatherine Mason-Gage1,605Labour P
SilksworthSophie Clinton1,322Labour P
St AnnesLynne Susan Dagg869Labour P
St ChadsChris Burnicle1,102Conserva
Population (2021 Census)
99,489
Electorate 78,448 · 2024 register
Median income
£25,000
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
11.7%
England average 20.0%
Schools
43
28 primary · 4 secondary
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