North Down / data
Alex Easton · Independent · sitting since 04 Jul 2024 · every division, speech and committee appearance.
Since election
662days
from 04 Jul 2024
Divisions
219
of 504 possible
Attendance
43%
285 absent / paired
Whip alignment
62%
vs party majority
Speeches
90
67 debates
Written Qs
220
216 answered
Committees
0
memberships
Expenses
£191k paid
FY 2024–2025 · 141 claims
Interests
0
Register
A · Overview
Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted — engagement only, not direction.
| Issue | Volume | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | 42 | |
| Economy | 29 | |
| Education | 23 | |
| Constitution and Democracy | 23 | |
| Welfare and Benefits | 19 | |
| Crime & Policing | 17 | |
| Schools | 13 | |
| Universal Credit | 13 |
Speech topics
Words spoken, by topic. Source: Hansard.
| Topic | Debates | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Defence | 13 | 4,804 |
| Health | 20 | 3,780 |
| Social Care | 23 | 3,368 |
| Local Government | 12 | 2,193 |
| Economy Jobs | 23 | 1,708 |
| Other | 4 | 926 |
| Crime | 13 | 748 |
| Culture Community | 8 | 372 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 Sept 2025 | English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Reasoned AmendmentMPs voted on a Conservative 'reasoned amendment' to block the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill from progressing, which woul… | Rebelled | Aye |
| 02 Jul 2025 | Draft Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) Regulations 2025MPs voted on new regulations to restrict foreign state ownership of British newspapers, setting limits on how much stake a foreign power can… | Rebelled | No |
| 30 Jun 2025 | Draft Marking of Retail Goods Regulations 2025MPs voted to approve regulations that would allow the government to require 'not for EU' labelling on retail goods sold across Great Britain… | Rebelled | No |
C · Speeches
| Date | Contribution | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 2026 | Junior Doctors’ Foundation ProgrammeI thank the hon. Member for securing this debate. Given that the foundation programme is typically the first full-time frontline post for doctors and often coincides with the perio… HealthLabour MarketEducation | 52 |
| 22 Apr 2026 | Clean EnergyDoes the Secretary of State agree that while we commend Wales for its impressive clean energy oversupply, we should focus on the lessons that offers for upgrading infrastructure ac… EnergyEconomy JobsEnvironment | 37 |
| 22 Apr 2026 | Junior Doctors’ Foundation ProgrammeAnother problem we have in Northern Ireland is that many doctors are moving over to private care, which is leading to shortfalls of NHS doctors. Is that something we need to tackle… HealthLabour MarketEducation | 38 |
| 20 Apr 2026 | FosteringDoes the Minister accept that if we are to promote fostering credibility, we must move beyond simply running adverts saying that we need more foster carers and ensure that fosterin… Social CareLocal Government | 47 |
| 15 Apr 2026 | Pride in Place: RegenerationDoes the Minister accept that if Pride in Place in Scotland is to mean anything, as with elsewhere in the UK, it must include targeted funding for high streets and town centres to … Local GovernmentEconomy JobsCulture Community | 41 |
| 15 Apr 2026 | Cost of Heating OilGiven that between 60% and 65% of households in Northern Ireland rely on home heating oil, whereas 80% of the rest of the UK relies on gas, does the hon. Member agree that there is… EnergyCost Of LivingUtilities | 56 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | National Suicide Prevention StandardDoes the hon. Member agree that BS 30480 will make a real difference only if businesses are actively supported in implementing it, rather than simply being left with a “do your bes… HealthEconomy JobsLabour Market | 58 |
| 25 Mar 2026 | Voluntary Groups and Community CentresI thank the hon. Member for securing this debate. Is it not the case that our community and voluntary organisations provide essential services in areas that Government simply canno… Culture CommunityLocal GovernmentSocial Care | 74 |
| 25 Mar 2026 | Proposed Police Training College: Kinnegar4. If he will have discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of providing funding for the development of a police training college at Kinnegar. CrimeLocal GovernmentEconomy Jobs | 29 |
| 25 Mar 2026 | Proposed Police Training College: KinnegarDoes the Minister agree that policing in Northern Ireland has consistently showcased excellence, with some of the most courageous public service anywhere in the UK, and that the de… CrimeLocal GovernmentEconomy Jobs | 69 |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Endometriosis ServicesI thank the hon. Member for securing this debate. An estimated 75,000 women in Northern Ireland are living with endometriosis, with an average wait of seven to eight years for diag… HealthSocial Care | 59 |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Royal Mail: PerformanceI thank the hon. Member for securing this debate. A recent Gallup meta-analysis of about 1.8 million employers found that a meaningful increase in employees’ wellbeing leads on ave… UtilitiesLabour MarketEconomy Jobs | 81 |
| 11 Mar 2026 | International Women’s DayOn International Women’s Day this year, many of us reflected on the scandal of group-based sexual exploitation of young women and girls in Britain. Will the Minister commit that, b… HealthCrimeEconomy Jobs | 63 |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Fur: Import and SaleI know that the hon. Member will agree that fur is not just a by-product, but a product that relies on animals being caged, confined and killed solely for their pelts, and that a b… EnvironmentAgricultureCulture Community | 63 |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Food BanksWill the Minister join me in paying tribute to the work of the food banks, not only in my constituency but across the United Kingdom, in stepping up to plug gaps for families? Does… Cost Of LivingSocial CareFiscal Policy | 57 |
D · Written questions
Top departments
| Department | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 32 | 14.5% |
| Northern Ireland Office | 31 | 14.1% |
| Department of Health and Social Care | 26 | 11.8% |
| Treasury | 20 | 9.1% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 19 | 8.6% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 14 | 6.4% |
| Home Office | 12 | 5.5% |
| Department for Education | 12 | 5.5% |
Most recent
| Date | Department | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2026 | Treasury | To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland regarding the potential impact of an increase in fuel costs on the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland; and whe… | Pending |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Treasury | To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a reduced rate of VAT for businesses in Northern Ireland on economic growth and competitiveness; and whether her Department has considered pilot… | Pending |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Home Office | To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to investigate reports of individuals submitting fraudulent claims in support of visa or asylum applications; and whether she plans to review visas g… | Pending |
| 13 Apr 2026 | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of rising domestic heating oil prices on households in Northern Ireland, where approximately 68% of homes rely on heating oil;… | Answered |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Cabinet Office | To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister had discussions with the Irish Government on the potential transfer of ownership or control of public assets in Northern Ireland to the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund… | Pending |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Treasury | To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Vehicle Excise Duty changes on motorists in areas experiencing significant road maintenance issues, including potholes. | Answered |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Northern Ireland Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department has been involved in discussions regarding the future ownership, management or financing of Northern Ireland public services or infrastructure by the Irish Governmen… | Answered |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Treasury | To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Treasury is considering proposals to transfer Northern Ireland public assets to any entity based in the Republic of Ireland. | Answered |
| 23 Mar 2026 | Northern Ireland Office | To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Government is taking steps to support voluntary search and rescue organisations in Northern Ireland, including K9 Search and Rescue (NI); and whether he has had discussions wit… | Answered |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussions with the devolved administrations to assess the potential merits of introducing a UK-wide screening programme for prostate cancer. | Answered |
| 03 Mar 2026 | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent instability and conflict in the Middle East on (a) wholesale oil prices and (b) domestic heating oil p… | Answered |
| 27 Feb 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has had recent discussions with UK Research and Innovation on increasing funding for research into invasive lobular breast cancer. | Answered |
| 20 Feb 2026 | Treasury | To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of allocating and ring-fencing funding for strategic rail infrastructure in Northern Ireland. | Answered |
| 11 Feb 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Civil Society Covenant will have a role in the implementation of the National Year of Reading. | Answered |
| 11 Feb 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to promote equality and inclusion as part of the National Year of Reading. | Answered |
E · Committees
No committee memberships recorded for this MP.
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 | 119 | 29,336 | 15.4% |
| Accommodation | 8 | 2,055 | 1.1% |
| Staffing | 1 | 124,002 | 65.1% |
| MP Travel | 0 | 20,505 | 10.8% |
| Staff Travel | 0 | 14,618 | 7.7% |
Top itemised cost types
| Cost type | Category | Claims | Paid (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment - purchase | Office Costs | 28 | 7,659 |
| Rent | Office Costs | 11 | 6,200 |
| Bought-in services | Office Costs | 3 | 5,095 |
| Stationery & printing | Office Costs | 42 | 3,308 |
| Hotel - London | Accommodation | 8 | 2,055 |
| Business rates | Office Costs | 2 | 2,016 |
| Utilities | Office Costs | 6 | 1,530 |
| Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Office Costs | 7 | 995 |
| Software & applications | Office Costs | 1 | 801 |
| Moving Fees | Office Costs | 1 | 800 |
| Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs | Office Costs | 2 | 594 |
| Training - staff | Staffing | 1 | 250 |
Most recent
| Date | Category | Description | Paid (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 01 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Rent | Rent | 833 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Rent | 2024-25 [***] rent pro-rata | -833 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Bought-in services | Professional & consultancy | 4,184 | Paid |
| 25 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs | REFRESHNI.COM [200011725-7871] | 534 | Paid |
| 25 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Hotel - London | [***][***][***] [200011725-7872] | 210 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Cleaning services | Banner March 2025 | 10 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Banner March 2025 | 8 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Cleaning services | Banner March 2025 | 7 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 5 | Paid |
| 19 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Hotel - London | [***][***][***] [200011725-5974] | 209 | Paid |
| 12 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Office furniture | 334 | Paid |
| 12 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Hotel - London | [***][***][***] [200011725-4335] | 210 | Paid |
| 10 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Landline | 144 | Paid |
| 10 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Internet | 119 | Paid |
| 10 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Waste disposal, confidential waste & rubbish collection | ARDS AND NORTH DOWN BC [200011725-5225] [200011799-115] | 1 | Paid |
| 07 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | WWW.AMAZON. [***] [200011725-6125] | 87 | Paid |
G · Register of interests
No financial interests declared by this MP.
H · Ward results
Ward-level results have not yet been ingested for this constituency.
I · Demographics
Demographic profile unavailable for this constituency.
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.