North Devon / data
Ian Roome · Liberal Democrats · sitting since 04 Jul 2024 · every division, speech and committee appearance.
Since election
659days
from 04 Jul 2024
Divisions
277
of 504 possible
Attendance
55%
227 absent / paired
Whip alignment
100%
vs party majority
Speeches
231
85 debates
Written Qs
261
253 answered
Committees
2
memberships
Expenses
£156k paid
FY 2024–2025 · 170 claims
Interests
5
2 categories
A · Overview
Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted — engagement only, not direction.
| Issue | Volume | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 54 | |
| Taxation | 51 | |
| Employment | 36 | |
| Education | 27 | |
| Welfare and Benefits | 26 | |
| Constitution and Democracy | 18 | |
| Schools | 17 | |
| Defence and Foreign Affairs | 16 |
Speech topics
Words spoken, by topic. Source: Hansard.
| Topic | Debates | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Defence | 29 | 5,320 |
| Economy Jobs | 28 | 3,712 |
| Fiscal Policy | 10 | 3,323 |
| Culture Community | 9 | 3,114 |
| Transport | 5 | 2,659 |
| Local Government | 13 | 2,274 |
| Cost Of Living | 4 | 1,970 |
| Health | 9 | 1,707 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Apr 2026 | Defence Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1304)Given your vast experience and what you brought to the inquiry, looking back, is there anything that you would have done differently? | 22 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Defence Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1304)Did the pace or sequencing of the work place any constraints on the evidence that you were able to gather or test? | 22 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Defence Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1304)Carrying on with the theme of commissioning the review, when did the bulk of your work take place and when did you submit your report? | 25 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Defence Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1304)What are your thoughts on the commissioning? The Daily Mail reported that in an answer to an FOI request, the MOD stated that you were commissioned on 23 January 2025, before the p… | 73 |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Armed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. New clause 3 would place a statutory duty on the Secretary of St… DefenceTechnologyLabour Market | 297 |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Armed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)The new clause would create a deadline and shorten the timeframe. The Minister has just said that some complicated cases can take up to three months, but it is probably those cases… DefenceTechnologyLabour Market | 87 |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Armed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I wish to press new clause 3 to a vote. Question put, That the clause be read a Second time. DefenceTechnologyLabour Market | 20 |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Armed Forces Bill (Sixth sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. Amendment 1 would introduce an exemption from recall to former service personnel who have been discharged due to physi… Defence | 241 |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Armed Forces Bill (Seventh sitting)I put it on record that I am a holder of a veterans railcard. Many of my constituents have veterans railcards and, with the cost of living crisis, they find it a great way to move … DefenceTechnologyLabour Market | 52 |
| 15 Apr 2026 | Strategic Defence Review: FundingIn the words of Lord Robertson, we are underprepared, underinsured and under attack. We are not safe. Britain’s national security and safety is in peril. I have asked over six time… DefenceFiscal PolicyEconomy Jobs | 67 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Armed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. Amendment 6 would introduce a requirement for the service police and the Defence Serious Crime Command to refer all al… Defence | 387 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Armed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)I beg to move amendment 6, in clause 12, page 29, line 6, at end insert— “115C Duty to refer sexual offences and domestic abuse to civilian police (1) This section applies where a … Defence | 234 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Armed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)It is important that we take on board the evidence from our visits. Otherwise, what is the point of going on them? That point was brought up when we debated a previous amendment, w… Defence | 289 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Armed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)I will withdraw the amendment, but I ask that the Minister takes on board the comments made by the hon. Member for Solihull West and Shirley in his powerful speech, so that this ca… Defence | 79 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Armed Forces Bill (Fourth sitting)The Minister mentions that there are 200 officers at one star and above. Does he have the facts on how many of those 200 one-stars do not know one another? Defence | 30 |
D · Written questions
Top departments
| Department | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Social Care | 66 | 25.3% |
| Ministry of Defence | 53 | 20.3% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 22 | 8.4% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 18 | 6.9% |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 15 | 5.7% |
| Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 14 | 5.4% |
| Home Office | 13 | 5.0% |
| Department for Education | 11 | 4.2% |
Most recent
| Date | Department | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 2026 | Cabinet Office | To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have been appointed to national security-vetted government roles against the recommendation of United Kingdom Security Vetting in the last 5 years. | Pending |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his department is taking to ensure that the adoption of smart meters does not disadvantage domestic energy customers in rural areas that have poor mobile connectivit… | Pending |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help ensure that poor mobile connectivity in rural areas does not disadvantage domestic energy customers in rural areas if they are unable to adopt s… | Pending |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to update national guidance for ICBs on gluten free prescription, including for people on low incomes. | Pending |
| 16 Apr 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 The Renewed Women's Health Strategy for England, published April 2026, improves gynaecology care in regions with local shortages of gyna… | Pending |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Cabinet Office | To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he expects to publish the National Cyber Action Plan. | Pending |
| 13 Apr 2026 | Treasury | To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of whether the current Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rates remain sufficient for volunteer drivers in rural areas, including those providing community transport to NH… | Pending |
| 13 Apr 2026 | Department for Work and Pensions | To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints the Department has received in the last 12 months regarding the Access to Work scheme. | Pending |
| 13 Apr 2026 | Department for Work and Pensions | To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reductions in Access to Work awards following a change of circumstances on the risk of disabled people falling out of em… | Answered |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Ministry of Defence | To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to review the effectiveness of UK aerial defence systems used in defensive operations in the Middle East in March 2026. | Answered |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Ministry of Defence | To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the recommendations of the Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, published 8 September 2026, what progress his Department has made on publishing a Defe… | Answered |
| 24 Mar 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 increase access to computed tomography coronary angiogram machines, including to increase the number of successful heart transplants. | Answered |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Ministry of Defence | To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to enhance drone manufacturing capacity in the UK. | Answered |
| 13 Mar 2026 | Home Office | To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her department has to provide additional funding under the Neighbourhood Policing Grant for 2026/27 to help meet the neighbourhood policing recruitment target given to Devon… | Answered |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to regulate service charges for leaseholders to ensure that they are transparent and value for money; and what support is available for lea… | Answered |
E · Committees
| Committee | Role | House | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select Committee on the Armed Forces BillSelect | Member | Commons | 09 Feb 2026 | present |
| Defence CommitteeSelect | Member | Commons | 28 Oct 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 | 131 | 21,209 | 13.6% |
| Accommodation | 26 | 18,072 | 11.6% |
| Staffing | 1 | 110,901 | 71.0% |
| MP Travel | 0 | 5,160 | 3.3% |
| Staff Travel | 0 | 835 | 0.5% |
Top itemised cost types
| Cost type | Category | Claims | Paid (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Accommodation | 8 | 15,423 |
| Equipment - purchase | Office Costs | 10 | 8,812 |
| Rent | Office Costs | 10 | 5,935 |
| Pooled staffing services | Staffing | 1 | 4,900 |
| Software & applications | Office Costs | 3 | 1,805 |
| Hotel - London | Accommodation | 7 | 1,653 |
| Stationery & printing | Office Costs | 43 | 1,130 |
| Advertising and contact cards | Office Costs | 6 | 1,018 |
| Utilities | Office Costs | 11 | 916 |
| Council tax | Accommodation | 6 | 766 |
| Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Office Costs | 15 | 647 |
| Venue hire, meetings & surgeries | Office Costs | 4 | 340 |
Most recent
| Date | Category | Description | Paid (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Venue hire, meetings & surgeries | [200011798-194] | 18 | Paid |
| 07 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Gas | 437 | Paid |
| 01 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Rent | Rent | 800 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Television | 350 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Rent | 2024-25 [***] rent pro-rata | -327 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Rent | 2024-25 [***] rent pro-rata | -800 | Paid |
| 26 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Electricity | 261 | Paid |
| 26 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Advertising and contact cards | XL DISPLAYS LTD [200011725-8602] | 157 | Paid |
| 26 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Advertising and contact cards | INSTANTPRINT [200011725-8601] | 65 | Paid |
| 21 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Office furniture | 1,528 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 32 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 24 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 24 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 21 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Cleaning services | Banner March 2025 | 18 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 17 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Cleaning services | Banner March 2025 | 16 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Cleaning services | Banner March 2025 | 15 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Cleaning services | Banner March 2025 | 14 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 13 | 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.
1. Employment and earnings4 entries
17 Jun 2025
Remuneration: £1,256 a month
Until: 1 May 2025.
Hours: 40 hrs a month estimate of hours worked as it depends on casework.
(Registered 1 August 2024; updated 12 June 2025)
17 Jun 2025
Role, work or services: Devon County Councillor
Until: 1 May 2025.
Payer: Devon County Council (County Council), Devon County Council, Topsham Road County Hall, Exeter EX2 4QD
(Registered 1 August 2024; updated 12 June 2025)
17 Jun 2025
Role, work or services: District Councillor
Until: 11 March 2025.
Payer: North Devon District Council, North Devon District Council, PO Box 379, Barnstaple EX32 2GR
Additional information: 10% of this councillor allowance is donated to North Devon Liberal Democrats
(Registered 1 August 2024; updated 12 June 2025)
16 Aug 2024
Remuneration: £901.15 a month this payment includes a SRA for being Leader (going forward I will not receive this SRA)
Until: 11 June 2025.
Hours: 20 hrs a month this is an estimate of hours as it depends on casework.
(Registered 1 August 2024; updated 12 June 2025)
3. Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources1 entry
16 Oct 2024
Name of donor: National Liberal Club
Address of donor: 1 Whitehall Place Westminster, London SW1A 2HE
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: honorary membership of National Liberal Club, for those who reside outside of London, value £1,310.75
Date received: 16 September 2024 to 31 December 2025
Date accepted: 16 September 2024
Donor status: company, registration 01355034
(Registered 9 October 2024)
H · Ward results
Most recent winning councillor in each ward — 25 wards, 42 councillor seats.
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Votes | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstaple Central | Syed Jusef | Liberal Democrats | 273 | 04 May 2023 |
| Barnstaple With Pilton | Ian Roome | Liberal Democrats | 1,037 | 04 May 2023 |
| Barnstaple With Pilton | Jo Orange | Liberal Democrats | 766 | 04 May 2023 |
| Barnstaple With Pilton | Mel Lovering | Liberal Democrats | 845 | 04 May 2023 |
| Barnstaple With Westacott | David John Clayton | Liberal Democrats | 705 | 04 May 2023 |
| Barnstaple With Westacott | Katrina Jean Mary Stevenson | Liberal Democrats | 690 | 04 May 2023 |
| Barnstaple With Westacott | Peter Richard Leaver | Liberal Democrats | 712 | 04 May 2023 |
| Bickington | Helen Frances Walker | Liberal Democrats | 741 | 04 May 2023 |
| Bickington | Joy Mary Cann | Liberal Democrats | 810 | 04 May 2023 |
| Bickington | Will Topps | Liberal Democrats | 778 | 04 May 2023 |
| Bishops Nympton | Robin John Milton | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 495 | 04 May 2023 |
| Bratton Fleming | Malcolm Stephen Prowse | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 485 | 04 May 2023 |
| Braunton East | Graham Matthew Bell | Liberal Democrats | 642 | 04 May 2023 |
| Braunton East | Liz Spear | Liberal Democrats | 664 | 04 May 2023 |
| Braunton West Georgeham | Pru Maskell | Conservative and Unionist Party | 534 | 04 May 2023 |
| Braunton West Georgeham | Simon George Maddocks | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 659 | 04 May 2023 |
| Chittlehampton | Susan Mavis Whitehead | Conservative and Unionist Party | 371 | 04 May 2023 |
| Chulmleigh | Kevin Miles Davies | Liberal Democrats | 498 | 04 May 2023 |
| Combe Martin | Brian Lee Lethaby | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 382 | 04 May 2023 |
| Fremington | Frank Lindsay Biederman | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 1,223 | 04 May 2023 |
| Fremington | Neil Alan Denton | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 705 | 04 May 2023 |
| Heanton Punchardon | Ricky Knight | Green Party of England and Wales | 275 | 04 May 2023 |
| Ilfracombe East | Daniel Carl Michael Turton | Conservative and Unionist Party | 673 | 04 May 2023 |
| Ilfracombe East | June Williams | Liberal Democrats | 718 | 04 May 2023 |
| Ilfracombe East | Paul Crabb | Conservative and Unionist Party | 674 | 04 May 2023 |
| Ilfracombe West | Jonathan Mark Quinn | Conservative and Unionist Party | 432 | 04 May 2023 |
| Ilfracombe West | Sara Jane Wilson | Green Party of England and Wales | 524 | 04 May 2023 |
| Instow | Lucinda Clemency Renshaw | Conservative and Unionist Party | 217 | 04 May 2023 |
| Landkey | Glyn Lane | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 498 | 04 May 2023 |
| Landkey | Mark Haworth-Booth | Green Party of England and Wales | 454 | 04 May 2023 |
| Lynton Lynmouth | John Michael Patrinos | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 363 | 04 May 2023 |
| Marwood | Joe Tucker | Liberal Democrats | 430 | 02 May 2019 |
| Mortehoe | Malcolm Andrew Wilkinson | Liberal Democrats | 309 | 04 May 2023 |
| Newport | Caroline Frances Herringham Leaver | Liberal Democrats | 798 | 04 May 2023 |
| Newport | Louisa Catherine Emma York | Liberal Democrats | 654 | 04 May 2023 |
| North Molton | Liz Bulled | Conservative and Unionist Party | 407 | 04 May 2023 |
| Roundswell | Christopher James Norman | Liberal Democrats | 590 | 04 May 2023 |
| Roundswell | David Knight | Liberal Democrats | 656 | 04 May 2023 |
| South Molton | David John Worden | Liberal Democrats | 916 | 04 May 2023 |
| South Molton | Matt Bushell | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 573 | 04 May 2023 |
| South Molton | Peter John Bishop | Liberal Democrats | 600 | 04 May 2023 |
| Witheridge | Peter George Jones | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 430 | 04 May 2023 |
I · Demographics
| Indicator | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021 Census) | 98,593 | Electorate 79,079 (2024) |
| Median age | 48 | years |
| Degree-educated | 28.6% | level 4 or above |
| Ethnicity (White) | 97.0% | 2021 Census ethnic group |
| Owner-occupied | 68.4% | households |
| Private-rented | 20.4% | households |
| Social-rented | 11.1% | households |
| Employment rate | 54.9% | 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.