Yorkshire and The Humber · England · 74,618Boundary · 2023

Pontefract, Castleford & Knottingley

Follow⇄ Compare

Created in the 2023 boundary review, replacing Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford.

Dispatch
Apr 2026

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review. Won by Lab in its first election in 2024. Covers Castleford, Pontefract and Knottingley. Population 95,689. Median income £25K (below average).

One of the most prominent figures in the current government, Yvette Cooper holds the role of Home Secretary -- a fact that shapes almost everything in her parliamentary record. Her most significant recent legislative moment is the passage of Martyn's Law, which she championed and unveiled, delivering on a long-running campaign to improve public safety at events and venues. She has also been active in foreign policy commentary, publicly criticising Donald Trump's threats against Iran and distancing the UK from US positions on health aid -- though she has faced sharp criticism over the government's 40% foreign aid budget cut and, separately, over her stance on Israeli military conduct and UK entanglement in Middle Eastern conflict. Her vote to reject Lords amendments on IRGC proscription -- preferring existing tools like the foreign influence registration scheme -- has attracted scrutiny given the wider security debate.

Her voting participation is exceptionally low at 30% (148 of 488 votes), though this reflects the conventions around ministerial attendance rather than disengagement. She has voted 100% with the Labour party line with zero rebel votes. Her stance profile shows notable commitment to progressive taxation and housing development, but lower alignment on welfare expansion, civil liberties, and crime toughness than those labels might suggest for a Home Secretary. She tracks above her party average on armed forces welfare, NHS funding, and welfare reform.

148
Commons votes
This parliament
£25k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
74.6k
Electorate
2024 GE

Votes less often than 96% of MPs.

Current Member of Parliament

Yvette Cooper

Yvette Cooper

Labour Party

The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper is the Labour MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, and has been an MP continually since 1 May 1997. She currently holds the Government post of Foreign Secretary.

Sign up free to read the full briefing on Yvette Cooper.

Sign up free

Voting at a Glance

A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review. Won by Lab in its first election in 2024. Covers Castleford, Pontefract and Knottingley. Population 95,689. Median income £25K (below average).

2024 General Election

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

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

§ 07The record, at a glance.153 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Cooper 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
20
Employment
18
Crime & Policing
17
Welfare and Benefits
16
Economy
15
Energy
13
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip

No rebellions or free votes recorded yet.

§ 08The local picture.6 wards

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

WardCouncillorVotesParty
Airedale Ferry FrystonJackie Ferguson1,135Labour P
Altofts WhitwoodJosie Pritchard1,684Labour P
Castleford Central GlasshoughtonRichard Anthony Forster1,713Labour P
KnottingleyAdele Hayes1,363Liberal
Pontefract NorthHelen Kirsty Antcliff1,717Labour P
Pontefract SouthJulie Craig1,925Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
95,689
Electorate 74,618 · 2024 register
Median income
£25,300
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
14.0%
England average 20.0%
Schools
43
33 primary · 5 secondary
Next · dig deeperEvery division, question, speech and committee record

Mine the full
record → Data view

Filter divisions, search written questions, read every speech since the election. Sortable, searchable, downloadable.

More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.