Suffolk Coastal / data
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter · Labour Party · sitting since 04 Jul 2024 · every division, speech and committee appearance.
Since election
660days
from 04 Jul 2024
Divisions
411
of 504 possible
Attendance
82%
93 absent / paired
Whip alignment
100%
vs party majority
Speeches
142
56 debates
Written Qs
184
182 answered
Committees
2
memberships
Expenses
£177k paid
FY 2024–2025 · 216 claims
Interests
9
5 categories
A · Overview
Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted — engagement only, not direction.
| Issue | Volume | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | 88 | |
| Economy | 81 | |
| Employment | 51 | |
| Crime & Policing | 40 | |
| Education | 37 | |
| Welfare and Benefits | 25 | |
| Constitution and Democracy | 25 | |
| Pensions | 23 |
Speech topics
Words spoken, by topic. Source: Hansard.
| Topic | Debates | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Local Government | 16 | 5,394 |
| Education | 9 | 3,532 |
| Environment | 6 | 3,382 |
| Energy | 5 | 3,357 |
| Health | 8 | 2,558 |
| Economy Jobs | 16 | 2,537 |
| Transport | 4 | 2,187 |
| Fiscal Policy | 4 | 1,560 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 2025 | Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: New Clause 2Vote on New Clause 2 to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, debated alongside related amendments including provisions on guidance,… | Free vote | Aye |
C · Speeches
| Date | Contribution | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 2026 | EngagementsQ9. Fertiliser prices are spiralling, and it is not just down to the war in the middle east; it is also because of the choices of the previous Conservative Government, who allowed … DefenceImmigrationEconomy Jobs | 123 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)I challenge that. | 3 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)You can say that you challenge that from simple mathematics but I would say to you that it is the equations that you choose to look at versus the other consequences of not investin… | 111 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)Did you say in 2023-24? Mark White: At that time, 2023-24. It is very clear that the designated retailers cannot make any profit from treating their farmers, who are direct supplie… | 630 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)You can say that you challenge that from simple mathematics but I would say to you that it is the equations that you choose to look at versus the other consequences of not investin… | 111 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)I challenge that. | 3 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)Did you say in 2023-24? Mark White: At that time, 2023-24. It is very clear that the designated retailers cannot make any profit from treating their farmers, who are direct supplie… | 630 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)I want to go back and revisit the conversation we had a moment ago. We are probably not going to agree on this because I have heard what you have said, but I might bring in Rohit t… | 337 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)I want to go back and revisit the conversation we had a moment ago. We are probably not going to agree on this because I have heard what you have said, but I might bring in Rohit t… | 337 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)Can I challenge you on that? Arguably, similar arguments were put forward for British Steel but ultimately the decision was that as a nation we are better off producing steel in th… | 123 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)Jo, this will be best answered by you but feel free to jump in, anyone. In 2023, the last UK plant for producing ammonia closed its doors for the very last time. It was completely … | 126 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)Jo, this will be best answered by you but feel free to jump in, anyone. In 2023, the last UK plant for producing ammonia closed its doors for the very last time. It was completely … | 126 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 589)Can I challenge you on that? Arguably, similar arguments were put forward for British Steel but ultimately the decision was that as a nation we are better off producing steel in th… | 123 |
| 13 Apr 2026 | Topical QuestionsT2. One of the biggest housing challenges in many of my villages and market towns—for instance, Orford, Aldeburgh and even larger towns such as Felixstowe—is the selling off of hou… HousingLocal Government | 93 |
| 26 Mar 2026 | Coastal ErosionMy district council, East Suffolk council, has worked incredibly closely with the hon. Member’s council on bringing forward measures and on cross-learnings. When we have talked abo… HousingEnvironmentLocal Government | 87 |
D · Written questions
Top departments
| Department | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Social Care | 32 | 17.4% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 29 | 15.8% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 24 | 13.0% |
| Home Office | 19 | 10.3% |
| Department for Education | 14 | 7.6% |
| Treasury | 13 | 7.1% |
| Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 13 | 7.1% |
| Department for Transport | 10 | 5.4% |
Most recent
| Date | Department | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Apr 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to put in place a mechanism that would allow common land to be entered into Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreements for 2026. | Pending |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on developing a cross-government strategy to help tackle rural poverty. | Pending |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Department for Work and Pensions | To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Universal Credit claimant count has been in (a) Leiston and (b) the IP16 postcode area in each month since January 2022. | Answered |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether any review was undertaken of the mitigation package secured through the Sizewell C Deed of Obligation following the increase in the project’s estimated cost. | Answered |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of plants currently supported under the Renewables Obligation from April 2027 on business c… | Answered |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has considered the potential merits of time-limited transitional support mechanism for generators currently supported through the Renewables Obligation, including to… | Answered |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Department for Transport | To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of freight operations associated with Sizewell C on (a) passenger capacity, (b) journey times and (c) service frequency on th… | Answered |
| 26 Feb 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is considering piloting a recreational water status. | Answered |
| 26 Feb 2026 | Treasury | To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to equalise the VAT treatment of Further Education colleges and school sixth forms. | Answered |
| 26 Feb 2026 | Department for Transport | To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the number of children injured in road traffic incidents within 500 metres of a school in each of the last five years. | Answered |
| 26 Feb 2026 | Department for Transport | To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on responding to road safety risks around schools, including time-limited 20 mph restrictions, crossings and school streets. | Answered |
| 26 Feb 2026 | Department for Transport | To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding is available to local authorities to deliver road safety measures around schools, including crossings, speed management and parking enforcement in 2026-27 in (a) England, (b) the Eas… | Answered |
| 26 Feb 2026 | Department for Transport | To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure local authorities publish the outcome of school gate road safety assessments and the measures implemented at each school where risk is identified. | Answered |
| 26 Feb 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on ensuring children have access to practical road safety and cycle training. | Answered |
| 24 Feb 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 that advances from dementia research programmes are adopted into frontline clinical practice. | Answered |
E · Committees
| Committee | Role | House | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of London (Markets) BillSelect | Member | Commons | 18 Mar 2026 | present |
| Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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 | 189 | 30,222 | 17.0% |
| Accommodation | 12 | 11,378 | 6.4% |
| Staffing | 3 | 130,675 | 73.6% |
| MP Travel | 0 | 2,253 | 1.3% |
| Staff Travel | 0 | 2,949 | 1.7% |
Top itemised cost types
| Cost type | Category | Claims | Paid (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs | Office Costs | 7 | 12,343 |
| Rent | Accommodation | 8 | 10,442 |
| Equipment - purchase | Office Costs | 29 | 3,035 |
| Pooled staffing services | Staffing | 1 | 3,000 |
| Stationery & printing | Office Costs | 30 | 2,749 |
| Venue hire, meetings & surgeries | Office Costs | 100 | 2,299 |
| Software & applications | Office Costs | 2 | 2,040 |
| Moving Fees | Office Costs | 1 | 1,824 |
| Rent | Office Costs | 1 | 1,672 |
| Business rates | Office Costs | 1 | 1,209 |
| Training - staff | Staffing | 2 | 946 |
| Council tax | Accommodation | 4 | 936 |
Most recent
| Date | Category | Description | Paid (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Electricity | 310 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Rent | 2024-25 [***] rent pro-rata | -758 | Paid |
| 29 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | UKOFFICEDIRECT.CO. [200011725-9627] | 456 | Paid |
| 28 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Toner for Constituency and Parliamentary Offices [200011802-258] | 926 | Paid |
| 28 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs | Supplies for constituency office [200011802-269] | 23 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 63 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 50 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 46 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 40 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 40 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 31 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 10 | Paid |
| 24 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs | Bin bags [200011802-270] | 2 | Paid |
| 23 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Office furniture | 420 | Paid |
| 22 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Office furniture | 1,050 | Paid |
| 21 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 36 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Staffing Training - staff | PARLI-TRAINING [200011725-6989] | 571 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Television | 270 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Television | 270 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Advertising and contact cards | VISTAPRINT [200011725-6988] | 230 | 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.
2. (a) Support linked to an MP but received by a local party organisation or indirectly via a central party organisation1 entry
03 Jun 2025
Name of donor: Jerome Justin Watts
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: £10,000 to support CLP activities
Donor status: individual
(Registered 29 May 2025)
2. (b) Any other support not included in Category 2(a)5 entries
14 Apr 2026
Name of donor: Countryside Alliance
Address of donor: China Works, Black Prince Rd, London, SE1 7SJ
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Donation of £2500 for recruiter of focus groups and £1000 for coordinator of focus groups as part of research for a Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG) report. Donations were paid directly to the focus group companies., value £3,500
Date received: 17 December 2025 to 24 December 2025
Date accepted: 17 December 2025
Donor status: company, registration 05669451
(Registered 26 March 2026)
24 Mar 2026
Name of donor: Susan Clare Parsons
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: In-kind support provided via Lansons, covering 50% of the salary costs of a staff member supporting the Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG), of which I am the Chair, value £8,250
Date received: 23 February 2026 to 22 August 2026
Date accepted: 23 February 2026
Donor status: individual
(Registered 17 March 2026)
24 Mar 2026
Name of donor: Anthony Trevor Langham
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: In-kind support provided via Lansons, covering 50% of the salary costs of a staff member supporting the Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG), of which I am the Chair, value £8,250
Date received: 23 February 2026 to 22 August 2026
Date accepted: 23 February 2026
Donor status: individual
(Registered 17 March 2026)
02 Sept 2025
Name of donor: Susan Clare Parsons
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: In-kind support provided via Lansons, covering 50% of the salary costs of a staff member supporting the Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG), of which I am the Chair, value £8,250
Date received: 4 August 2025 to 3 February 2026
Date accepted: 4 August 2025
Donor status: individual
(Registered 29 August 2025)
02 Sept 2025
Name of donor: Anthony Trevor Langham
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: In-kind support provided via Lansons, covering 50% of the salary costs of a staff member supporting the Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG), of which I am the Chair, value £8,250
Date received: 4 August 2025 to 3 February 2026
Date accepted: 4 August 2025
Donor status: individual
(Registered 29 August 2025)
3. Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources1 entry
18 Nov 2025
Name of donor: Anthony Trevor Langham
Address of donor: private
Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: two tickets with hospitality for Ascot races for Jenny Riddell-Carpenter. Each ticket value £195, value £390
Date received: 18 October 2025
Date accepted: 18 October 2025
Donor status: individual
(Registered 17 November 2025)
8. Miscellaneous1 entry
05 Aug 2025
I was elected as Chair of the Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG), a formally constituted group within the Labour Party focused on rural policy development and advocacy. This is an unpaid role. I provide strategic direction for the group and oversee its external engagement and staffing support arrangements.
Date interest arose: 9 June 2025
(Registered 4 August 2025)
10. Family members engaged in lobbying the public sector on behalf of a third party or client1 entry
14 Apr 2026
Name: Matthew Riddell- Carpenter
Relationship: Spouse
Role: Director
Name of employer: Appleby Solutions LTD
(Registered 10 April 2026)
H · Ward results
Most recent winning councillor in each ward — 13 wards, 22 councillor seats.
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Votes | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldeburgh Leiston | Katie Graham | Green Party of England and Wales | 1,961 | 04 May 2023 |
| Aldeburgh Leiston | Sarah Caroline Whitelock | Green Party of England and Wales | 1,896 | 04 May 2023 |
| Aldeburgh Leiston | Tom Daly | Green Party of England and Wales | 2,086 | 04 May 2023 |
| Deben | James Phillip Mallinder | Conservative and Unionist Party | 773 | 04 May 2023 |
| Eastern Felixstowe | Jan Candy | Liberal Democrats | 1,838 | 04 May 2023 |
| Eastern Felixstowe | Mark Jepson | Conservative and Unionist Party | 1,722 | 04 May 2023 |
| Eastern Felixstowe | Seamus Bennett | Liberal Democrats | 2,288 | 04 May 2023 |
| Kelsale Yoxford | Julia Ewart | Liberal Democrats | 752 | 04 May 2023 |
| Martlesham Purdis Farm | Edward Duncan Thompson | Liberal Democrats | 1,229 | 04 May 2023 |
| Martlesham Purdis Farm | Mark Anthony Clive Packard | Liberal Democrats | 1,094 | 04 May 2023 |
| Melton | Rachel Smith-Lyte | Green Party of England and Wales | 890 | 04 May 2023 |
| Orwell Villages | Lee Reeves | Liberal Democrats | 1,492 | 04 May 2023 |
| Orwell Villages | Mike Ninnmey | Liberal Democrats | 1,736 | 04 May 2023 |
| Rendlesham Orford | Tim Wilson | Green Party of England and Wales | 842 | 04 May 2023 |
| Saxmundham | John Fisher | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | 396 | 04 May 2023 |
| Southwold | David Beavan | Liberal Democrats | 1,122 | 04 May 2023 |
| Western Felixstowe | Amanda Ann Folley | Labour Party | 965 | 04 May 2023 |
| Western Felixstowe | Mike Deacon | Labour Party | 1,204 | 04 May 2023 |
| Western Felixstowe | Rosie Smithson | Labour Party | 916 | 04 May 2023 |
| Woodbridge | Kay Yule | Liberal Democrats | 1,220 | 04 May 2023 |
| Woodbridge | Stephen Molyneux | Green Party of England and Wales | 1,404 | 04 May 2023 |
| Wrentham Wangford Westleton | Paul Richard Ashton | Liberal Democrats | 893 | 04 May 2023 |
I · Demographics
| Indicator | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021 Census) | 88,207 | Electorate 74,522 (2024) |
| Median age | 51 | years |
| Degree-educated | 30.3% | level 4 or above |
| Ethnicity (White) | 96.1% | 2021 Census ethnic group |
| Owner-occupied | 68.5% | households |
| Private-rented | 17.0% | households |
| Social-rented | 14.5% | households |
| Employment rate | 50.9% | 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.