West Dorset / data
Edward Morello · Liberal Democrats · sitting since 04 Jul 2024 · every division, speech and committee appearance.
Since election
660days
from 04 Jul 2024
Divisions
307
of 504 possible
Attendance
61%
197 absent / paired
Whip alignment
100%
vs party majority
Speeches
497
195 debates
Written Qs
1,619
1,597 answered
Committees
1
memberships
Expenses
£153k paid
FY 2024–2025 · 70 claims
Interests
2
1 category
A · Overview
Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted — engagement only, not direction.
| Issue | Volume | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | 65 | |
| Economy | 58 | |
| Employment | 39 | |
| Education | 28 | |
| Welfare and Benefits | 27 | |
| Crime & Policing | 23 | |
| Constitution and Democracy | 20 | |
| Schools | 17 |
Speech topics
Words spoken, by topic. Source: Hansard.
| Topic | Debates | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Jobs | 67 | 18,414 |
| Environment | 28 | 11,930 |
| Local Government | 40 | 10,401 |
| Transport | 22 | 10,142 |
| Defence | 33 | 7,874 |
| Health | 27 | 7,697 |
| Fiscal Policy | 27 | 6,282 |
| Culture Community | 19 | 6,208 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May 2025 | Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Report Stage: Amendment (a) to New Clause 10Vote on whether to allow employers who opt out of providing assisted dying to also prohibit their employees from participating in assisted d… | Free vote | Aye |
C · Speeches
| Date | Contribution | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)Understood. | 1 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)But he had already fired Sir Oliver, without all of the additional information pertaining to the mitigations and the advice of Foreign Office security officials. | 25 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)So in terms of the Prime Minister’s decision to fire Sir Oliver, he was not in receipt at that point of all of the information—only the limited information that you provided relati… | 35 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)I am just trying to work out the timeline in terms of what information the Prime Minister had when he made the decision to fire Sir Oliver, and what information was provided to the… | 72 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)But the Prime Minister had been briefed by you on the UKSV. | 12 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)Before making the decision to sack Olly Robbins, had the Prime Minister also seen the mitigations that would have been put in place? Was it his judgment on whether or not those mit… | 35 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)Subsequent to your receiving access to the UKSV report, did you have a conversation with Ian Collard, who was the head of security at the time, to establish what advice or informat… | 38 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)Subsequent to you gaining access to the UKSV, was there a conversation with Sir Olly about the advice that he received and the decision that he made? | 27 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)When you briefed the Prime Minister on the limited amount of information you were able to share with the UKSV—I don’t know if you briefed or provided, so please clarify, the risk m… | 75 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)Did the information that was provided by Ian Collard differ from the evidence that Sir Oliver gave to the Committee on Tuesday? | 22 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)You can tell us if he stepped outside of the ideal process. | 12 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)I would not ask you to opine on this anyway, but let us put aside for a moment whether or not Sir Olly Robbins was the decision maker, although ultimately accountable for the decis… | 127 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)Can you tell us if he is a good civil servant? | 11 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)And what is your professional judgment on whether or not the mitigations that the FCDO security department was recommending were adequate to manage the risk that you read in the UK… | 32 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Foreign Affairs Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 385)Sorry—I probably should have formed the question better in my head before I put my hand up. | 17 |
D · Written questions
Top departments
| Department | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Social Care | 368 | 22.7% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 291 | 18.0% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 155 | 9.6% |
| Department for Transport | 142 | 8.8% |
| Department for Education | 107 | 6.6% |
| Home Office | 88 | 5.4% |
| Treasury | 87 | 5.4% |
| Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 74 | 4.6% |
Most recent
| Date | Department | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Apr 2026 | Cabinet Office | To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to release a copy of the former US Ambassador' s completed conflict of interests form. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to review the level of council tax support for people whose homes have been rendered uninhabitable by fire in West Dorset constituency. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Cabinet Office | To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to improve engagement with the private sector, including the technology industry, in national security policymaking. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Department for Business and Trade | To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to tackle misleading practices in the sale of extended warranties. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out the support currently available to farmers in West Dorset constituency given changes in the level of fuel costs. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on council tax relief for fire-damaged properties. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Cabinet Office | To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of engagement with civil society organisations in the formulation of the National Security Strategy. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Cabinet Office | To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to undertake broader consultation with industry to support the delivery of national security objectives. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when were businesses notified of the reclassification of valerian root by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Department for Business and Trade | To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure consumers are provided with adequate and clear information on the value of extended warranties at the point of sale. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of meningitis in West Dorset constituency. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers with recent changes in the level of price of fuel. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent changes in the level of fuel prices on farm profitability. | Pending |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has assessed the adequacy of council tax exemptions for fire-damaged homes in West Dorset constituency. | Pending |
| 20 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 improve (a) awareness, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of meningitis in West Dorset constituency. | Pending |
E · Committees
| Committee | Role | House | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 23 | 20,873 | 13.6% |
| Office Costs | 39 | 21,015 | 13.7% |
| Staffing | 1 | 107,506 | 70.3% |
| MP Travel | 0 | 2,976 | 1.9% |
| Staff Travel | 0 | 437 | 0.3% |
| Dependant Travel | 0 | 217 | 0.1% |
Top itemised cost types
| Cost type | Category | Claims | Paid (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Accommodation | 9 | 18,220 |
| Equipment - purchase | Office Costs | 11 | 8,667 |
| Pooled staffing services | Staffing | 1 | 4,900 |
| Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs | Office Costs | 5 | 2,826 |
| Utilities | Office Costs | 3 | 2,610 |
| Software & applications | Office Costs | 2 | 1,432 |
| Utilities | Accommodation | 7 | 1,149 |
| Council tax | Accommodation | 1 | 750 |
| Hotel - London | Accommodation | 4 | 608 |
| Stationery & printing | Office Costs | 6 | 515 |
| Business rates | Office Costs | 1 | 510 |
| Service charge & ground Rent | Office Costs | 1 | 488 |
Most recent
| Date | Category | Description | Paid (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jul 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Water | 140 | Paid |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Electricity | 1,045 | Paid |
| 23 May 2025 | Accommodation Utilities | Electricity | 45 | Paid |
| 02 Apr 2025 | Accommodation Utilities | Electricity | 580 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Business rates | DORSET COUNCIL CARD PA [200011725-9793] | 510 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Rent | 2024-25 [***] rent pro-rata | -980 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs | Additional heater supply and install | 240 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs | Office cleaning equipment and batteries for clock | 53 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Hospitality | WAITROSE 120 [200011725-10258] | 26 | Paid |
| 27 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Sundries | 18 | Paid |
| 26 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 2,645 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Banner March 2025 | 150 | Paid |
| 18 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Rent | Rent | 2,400 | Paid |
| 18 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Landline & internet package | 144 | Paid |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Gas | 1,425 | Paid |
| 04 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Landline & internet package | 158 | Paid |
| 04 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Landline & internet package | 46 | Paid |
| 27 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Sundries | 728 | Paid |
| 27 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 148 | Paid |
| 18 Feb 2025 | Accommodation Rent | Rent | 2,400 | 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 UK2 entries
24 Mar 2026
Name of donor: HM Government of Cayman Islands
Address of donor: 133 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-9000, Cayman Islands
Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights (£2905.60), accommodation (£1919.63), transfers (£206.00), subsistence (£577.83), commemorative item (£64.34), value £5,673.40
Destination of visit: Cayman Islands
Dates of visit: 13 February 2026 to 17 February 2026
Purpose of visit: Fact finding visit to UK Overseas Territory, exploring natural disaster responsiveness and preparedness, financial regulation, environmental management, and governance.
(Registered 12 March 2026)
08 Oct 2025
Name of donor: HM Government of Gibraltar
Address of donor: Gibraltar House, 150 Strand, London WC2R 1JA
Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights (£489), accommodation (£525) and meals (£250), value £1,264
Destination of visit: Gibraltar
Dates of visit: 8 September 2025 to 11 September 2025
Purpose of visit: To represent the Liberal Democrats at the Gibraltar National Day celebrations
(Registered 26 September 2025)
H · Ward results
Most recent winning councillor in each ward — 12 wards, 14 councillor seats.
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Votes | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaminster | Craig Monks | Conservative and Unionist Party | 601 | 02 May 2024 |
| Chalk Valleys | Jill Haynes | Conservative and Unionist Party | 683 | 02 May 2024 |
| Charminster St Marys | David Taylor | Liberal Democrats | 892 | 02 May 2024 |
| Dorchester East | Rory Major | Liberal Democrats | 979 | 02 May 2024 |
| Dorchester East | Stella Jones | Liberal Democrats | 1,337 | 02 May 2024 |
| Dorchester Poundbury | Richard Martin Biggs | Liberal Democrats | 780 | 02 May 2024 |
| Dorchester West | Andy Canning | Liberal Democrats | 1,322 | 02 May 2024 |
| Dorchester West | Les Fry | Independents for Dorset | 1,335 | 02 May 2024 |
| Lyme Charmouth | Belinda Bawden | Green Party of England and Wales | 884 | 02 May 2024 |
| Sherborne East | Jon Andrews | Liberal Democrats | 838 | 02 May 2024 |
| Sherborne Rural | Robin Andrew Shane Legg | Liberal Democrats | 916 | 02 May 2024 |
| Sherborne West | Richard Henry Geoffrey Crabb | Liberal Democrats | 575 | 02 May 2024 |
| Winterborne Broadmayne | Roland Tarr | Liberal Democrats | 747 | 02 May 2024 |
| Yetminster | Chris Kippax | Liberal Democrats | 813 | 02 May 2024 |
I · Demographics
| Indicator | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021 Census) | 96,606 | Electorate 75,998 (2024) |
| Median age | 53 | years |
| Degree-educated | 35.9% | level 4 or above |
| Ethnicity (White) | 96.8% | 2021 Census ethnic group |
| Owner-occupied | 69.0% | households |
| Private-rented | 16.8% | households |
| Social-rented | 14.2% | households |
| Employment rate | 50.5% | 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.