Yorkshire and The Humber · England · 76,207Boundary · 2023

Leeds East

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

A safe Lab seat, won with 47% of the vote in 2024. Covers Leeds, Garforth and Swillington. Population 108,588. Recorded crime is 74% above the national average. Median income £25K (below average).

One of Labour's most consistent rebels, Richard Burgon has voted against his own party five times in recent months -- defying the whip on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the Crime and Policing Bill (where civil liberties provisions were at stake), and regulations raising university tuition fees. His most high-profile divergence from the government has been over welfare reform: he publicly refused to back the welfare bill even after Downing Street offered concessions, writing in The Guardian that the whole thing should be scrapped. A petition he launched calling for a wealth tax instead of disability cuts drew over 40,000 signatures. His trip to Cuba in March 2026 to deliver humanitarian aid generated both positive coverage and sharp criticism, with Conservative commentators accusing him of legitimising an authoritarian regime.

At 82% voting participation -- broadly in line with the Commons average -- Burgon is an active if not exceptional attender. He votes with Labour 91.5% of the time overall, but his deviations are ideologically consistent: he is dramatically more likely than the average Labour MP to back disability benefit protections (+88 percentage points) and oppose benefit cuts (+52pp), while being notably less aligned with the party on welfare reform (-65pp) and children's wellbeing legislation (-49pp). His speeches concentrate heavily on defence, the economy, social care, and fiscal policy, and he has co-ordinated cross-party efforts -- including a letter signed by over 60 MPs -- calling for sanctions on Israel.

412
Commons votes
This parliament
£25k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
76.2k
Electorate
2024 GE

Lab held for 5 consecutive elections.

Current Member of Parliament

Richard Burgon

Richard Burgon

Labour Party

Richard Burgon is the Labour MP for Leeds East, and has been an MP continually since 7 May 2015.

Notable Votes

The government moved to insist on its own amendment (38J) and reject Lords amendments 38V to 38X in a parliamentary ping-pong exchange on a Constitution and Democracy bill. This vote determined whether the Commons would override the Lords' preferred changes and restore the government's original position.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

MPs voted on whether to accept or reject a change made by the House of Lords to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Without debate excerpts, the specific content of Lords Amendment 38 cannot be determined, but the vote decided whether the Commons would override the Lords' modification to this legislation covering children's welfare and schools.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

MPs voted on whether to accept or reject a change made by the House of Lords to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Without debate excerpts, the specific content of Lords Amendment 106 cannot be determined, but the vote represents the Commons deciding whether to keep or overturn a Lords modification to this wide-ranging children's legislation.

MP voted NoAgainst party majorityLikely whipped

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Voting at a Glance

A safe Lab seat, won with 47% of the vote in 2024. Covers Leeds, Garforth and Swillington. Population 108,588. Recorded crime is 74% above the national average. Median income £25K (below average).

2024 General Election

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

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

§ 07The record, at a glance.413 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Burgon 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
Economy
84
Taxation
80
Employment
44
Education
32
Crime & Policing
30
Welfare and Benefits
27
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Govt Motion to insist on Amdt 38J and disagree with Amdts 38V to 38X22 Apr 2026
No
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion relating to Lords Amendment 3815 Apr 2026
No
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion relating to Lords Amendment 10615 Apr 2026
No
§ 08The local picture.5 wards

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

WardCouncillorVotesParty
Cross Gates WhinmoorJames Gibson2,865Labour P
Garforth SwillingtonSarah Jane Field3,469Garforth
Gipton HarehillsMothin Ali3,070Green Pa
Killingbeck SeacroftDavid John Jenkins2,551Labour P
Temple NewsamHelen Elizabeth Mary Hayden2,760Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
108,588
Electorate 76,207 · 2024 register
Median income
£25,000
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
15.9%
England average 20.0%
Schools
39
34 primary · 4 secondary
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