Stourbridge / data
Cat Eccles · Labour Party · sitting since 04 Jul 2024 · every division, speech and committee appearance.
Since election
663days
from 04 Jul 2024
Divisions
261
of 511 possible
Attendance
51%
250 absent / paired
Whip alignment
97%
vs party majority
Speeches
50
35 debates
Written Qs
97
97 answered
Committees
0
memberships
Expenses
£179k paid
FY 2024–2025 · 94 claims
Interests
3
2 categories
A · Overview
Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted — engagement only, not direction.
| Issue | Volume | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | 53 | |
| Economy | 45 | |
| Crime & Policing | 37 | |
| Education | 25 | |
| Constitution and Democracy | 22 | |
| Employment | 19 | |
| Prisons | 16 | |
| Schools | 16 |
Speech topics
Words spoken, by topic. Source: Hansard.
| Topic | Debates | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Culture Community | 7 | 5,325 |
| Health | 11 | 3,130 |
| Immigration | 4 | 2,791 |
| Social Care | 11 | 2,669 |
| Defence | 5 | 2,598 |
| Economy Jobs | 11 | 2,338 |
| Local Government | 7 | 1,992 |
| Crime | 7 | 1,741 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Mar 2026 | Draft Higher Education (Fee Limits and Fee Limit Condition) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026Vote on regulations to raise university tuition fees in England by 2.71% for 2026-27. The Labour government backed the increase, while oppos… | Rebelled | No |
| 09 Jul 2025 | Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Committee: Amendment 38Vote on Amendment 38 to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which would have provided greater certainty and protect… | Rebelled | Aye |
| 09 Jul 2025 | Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Committee: Clause 2, as amended, and Clause 3 stand partVote on whether Clauses 2 and 3 of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill should remain part of the Bill. These clauses… | Rebelled | No |
C · Speeches
| Date | Contribution | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Apr 2026 | Allied Health ProfessionalsI thank my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) for her opening speech and my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley (Sonia Kumar) for securing this long-overdue debate. As w… HealthLabour MarketSocial Care | 1,358 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Business of the HouseFollowing the Environment Act 2021, all councils in England were required to introduce food waste collections and improved kerbside recycling by April this year. Despite the long l… Local GovernmentEconomy JobsEnergy | 117 |
| 11 Feb 2026 | EngagementsQ14. The announcement that pubs and music venues will receive a much-welcome reduction in business rates is a positive step. However, in our manifesto we did promise root-and-branc… Mp PerformanceCrimeHousing | 94 |
| 10 Feb 2026 | Energy Bills: Small BusinessesSmall businesses across my constituency have been mis-sold commercial energy contracts by brokers. A business in Lye was recently locked into a three-year contract in which it foun… EnergyCost Of LivingEconomy Jobs | 85 |
| 10 Feb 2026 | Energy Bills: Small Businesses14. What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the accuracy of small businesses’ energy bills. EnergyCost Of LivingEconomy Jobs | 17 |
| 02 Feb 2026 | Indefinite Leave to RemainIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Edward. The proposals to retroactively extend the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain create considerable insecurit… ImmigrationSocial CareHealth | 353 |
| 21 Jan 2026 | Animal Welfare Strategy for EnglandIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Samantha Niblett) for securing this important debate. The Governm… AgricultureEnvironmentCulture Community | 531 |
| 20 Jan 2026 | Domestic Abuse-related Deaths: NHS PreventionIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir John. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Dr Opher) on securing this important debate. Too often, domestic abus… HealthCrimeSocial Care | 687 |
| 19 Jan 2026 | Business Rates: Retail, Hospitality and LeisureI welcome noises from the Department about additional support for pubs, but this is not just about pubs; it is about all hospitality businesses, including music venues such as Clap… Fiscal PolicyEconomy JobsCost Of Living | 114 |
| 19 Jan 2026 | Sale of FireworksIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Jardine. I thank the hon. Member for Keighley and Ilkley (Robbie Moore) for securing this important debate and speaking so passio… CrimeCulture CommunityHealth | 610 |
| 09 Dec 2025 | Railways BillAs a long-time supporter of our railways and rail workers, I am proud to speak on a key Labour Government manifesto commitment. The Bill is about putting passengers, workers and th… TransportEconomy JobsLocal Government | 203 |
| 09 Dec 2025 | Railways BillI thank my right hon. Friend for his valuable intervention. He makes the really important point that there is currently no mention of staff in the Bill. As I have said, there will … TransportEconomy JobsLocal Government | 538 |
| 26 Nov 2025 | EngagementsQ5. At the moment, everyone is being bombarded with adverts and emails for Black Friday encouraging them to spend money on so-called time-limited deals, leading to panic buying and… Economy JobsCost Of LivingHealth | 87 |
| 17 Nov 2025 | Asylum PolicyAs a delegate to the Council of Europe, I will always defend the European convention on human rights and its institution and treaties, and that is why it is important to talk about… ImmigrationCost Of LivingCrime | 129 |
| 13 Nov 2025 | Business of the HouseChildren and adults across Stourbridge and the wider Black Country are being prevented from accessing vital care and support because all new shared care agreements have been stoppe… DefenceLocal GovernmentEconomy Jobs | 97 |
D · Written questions
Top departments
| Department | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Social Care | 21 | 21.6% |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 12 | 12.4% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 9 | 9.3% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 8 | 8.2% |
| Department for Education | 7 | 7.2% |
| Ministry of Justice | 5 | 5.2% |
| Department for Business and Trade | 5 | 5.2% |
| Department for Transport | 5 | 5.2% |
Most recent
| Date | Department | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Apr 2026 | Department for Work and Pensions | To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many young people aged 16-24 are claiming the Universal Credit health element while in full-time non-advanced education under Universal Credit rules. | Answered |
| 26 Mar 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 ensure that reforms to energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector drives heat demand reduction via insulation. | Answered |
| 26 Mar 2026 | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps is the government taking to include charitable housing providers within the definition of affordable housing in the National Planning Policy Framework. | Answered |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that referral services for women and girls impacted by violence and abuse will be evidence-based. | Answered |
| 23 Mar 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what action the Government is taking to address harmful cat breeding practices, including the breeding of wildcat hybrids. | Answered |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Department for Business and Trade | To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to help ensure the new owners of Royal Mail honour agreements made with the Communication Workers Union and his Department. | Answered |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many recorded sewage spills and leaks into (a) rivers, (b) coastal waters and (c) other inland waterways there have been in England in the last 12 months; and what a… | Answered |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a 36-hour week for full time NHS staff at no loss of pay. | Answered |
| 16 Mar 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help address harmful cat breeding practices, including the breeding of wildcat hybrids. | Answered |
| 05 Mar 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many medical students graduated from UK universities in each of the last five years; and how many doctors completed foundation training in each of the last five years. | Answered |
| 23 Feb 2026 | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will instruct Local Authorities to disregard the compensation and pensions of veterans as a form of council income. | Answered |
| 20 Feb 2026 | Department for Work and Pensions | To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the average processing time for Employment Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payments. | Answered |
| 20 Feb 2026 | Department for Work and Pensions | To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on changes to women's State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024, if he will make an assessment of the potential… | Answered |
| 20 Feb 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) guidance has been provided to Dudley Council on the treatment of Armed Forces compensation in means-testing for Disabled Facilities Grants and (b) the Government’s commis… | Answered |
| 20 Feb 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the outcomes of the Extend medicines responsibilities for allied health professions consultation which closed in October 2025. | 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 | 66 | 26,775 | 14.9% |
| Accommodation | 11 | 19,933 | 11.1% |
| Staffing | 2 | 123,076 | 68.7% |
| MP Travel | 0 | 4,183 | 2.3% |
| Staff Travel | 0 | 5,273 | 2.9% |
Top itemised cost types
| Cost type | Category | Claims | Paid (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Accommodation | 8 | 18,165 |
| Rent | Office Costs | 7 | 9,592 |
| Equipment - purchase | Office Costs | 17 | 8,455 |
| Stationery & printing | Office Costs | 14 | 3,047 |
| Pooled staffing services | Staffing | 1 | 3,000 |
| Software & applications | Office Costs | 3 | 2,140 |
| Hotel - London | Accommodation | 3 | 1,768 |
| Bought-in services | Staffing | 1 | 1,225 |
| Recruitment Services &Costs | Office Costs | 1 | 900 |
| Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Office Costs | 6 | 672 |
| Venue hire, meetings & surgeries | Office Costs | 9 | 662 |
| Landline phone & internet - installation & equipment purchase | Office Costs | 1 | 642 |
Most recent
| Date | Category | Description | Paid (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Rent | Rent | 1,500 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Rent | 2024-25 [***] rent pro-rata | -385 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Rent | 2024-25 [***] rent pro-rata | -1,500 | Paid |
| 24 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Computer, laptop, PC, tablet & accessories | 25 | Paid |
| 23 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 960 | Paid |
| 23 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 236 | Paid |
| 23 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Insurance - contents | AMAZON [***] [200011725-7113] | 80 | Paid |
| 23 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 60 | Paid |
| 21 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 35 | Paid |
| 21 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Venue hire, meetings & surgeries | Venue hire, meetings & surgeries | 20 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 5,015 | Paid |
| 18 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Landline & internet package | 96 | Paid |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 141 | Paid |
| 13 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | VIKING [200011725-5253] | 30 | Paid |
| 06 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Rent | Rent | 2,650 | Paid |
| 06 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Office furniture | 119 | Paid |
| 05 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Postage & couriers | ROYAL MAIL GROUP LTD [200011725-3241] | 4 | Paid |
| 04 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Rent | Rent | 1,500 | Paid |
| 28 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Sundries | 275 | Paid |
| 28 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Venue hire, meetings & surgeries | Venue hire, meetings & surgeries | 185 | 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.
4. Visits outside the UK1 entry
15 Jul 2025
Name of donor: Labour Friends of Israel Ltd
Address of donor: BM LFI, London WC1N 3XX
Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights, accommodation and meals, value £2,600
Destination of visit: Israel and Palestine
Dates of visit: 25 May 2025 to 29 May 2025
Purpose of visit: Delegation to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Meetings with politicians, academics, activists and diplomats
(Registered 9 July 2025)
This is a late entry to which the rectification procedure was applied on 25 November 2025. Paragraph 51 of the Procedural Protocol in respect of the Code
of Conduct refers.
8. Miscellaneous2 entries
04 Nov 2025
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Councillor, (unpaid since 15 July 2024 and previously registered under Category 1)
(Registered 18 July 2024; updated 29 October 2025)
16 Aug 2024
Trustee of Wollaston Village Hall. This is an unpaid role.
(Registered 18 July 2024)
H · Ward results
Most recent winning councillor in each ward — 5 wards, 15 councillor seats.
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Votes | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brierley Hill Wordsley South | Adam Davies | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,160 | 02 May 2024 |
| Brierley Hill Wordsley South | Matthew James Cook | Labour Party | 1,048 | 02 May 2024 |
| Brierley Hill Wordsley South | Wayne Little | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,075 | 02 May 2024 |
| Lye Wollescote | Ellen Hope Cobb | Labour Party | 1,200 | 02 May 2024 |
| Lye Wollescote | Mohammed Hanif | Labour Party | 1,314 | 02 May 2024 |
| Lye Wollescote | Pete Lowe | Labour Party | 1,318 | 02 May 2024 |
| Netherton Holly Hall | Elaine Taylor | Labour Party | 1,433 | 02 May 2024 |
| Netherton Holly Hall | Qasim Mughal | Labour Party | 1,182 | 02 May 2024 |
| Netherton Holly Hall | Shaneila Mughal | Labour Party | 1,094 | 02 May 2024 |
| Pedmore Stourbridge East | Ian Marshall Kettle | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,924 | 02 May 2024 |
| Pedmore Stourbridge East | James Robert Clinton | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,836 | 02 May 2024 |
| Pedmore Stourbridge East | Jason Thorne | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,522 | 02 May 2024 |
| Wollaston Stourbridge Town | Andrew Michael Edward Tromans | Labour Party | 1,769 | 02 May 2024 |
| Wollaston Stourbridge Town | Cat Eccles | Labour Party | 2,401 | 02 May 2024 |
| Wollaston Stourbridge Town | Jason Robert Griffin | Labour Party | 1,647 | 02 May 2024 |
I · Demographics
| Indicator | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021 Census) | 95,925 | Electorate 68,311 (2024) |
| Median age | 42 | years |
| Degree-educated | 26.7% | level 4 or above |
| Ethnicity (White) | 87.2% | 2021 Census ethnic group |
| Owner-occupied | 67.1% | households |
| Private-rented | 14.7% | households |
| Social-rented | 17.8% | households |
| Employment rate | 55.4% | 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.