Heidi Alexander.

Heidi Alexander is Transport Secretary — a Cabinet minister, not a backbencher — and her parliamentary record reflects that reality. She has voted in line with Labour on every recorded division, a pattern typical of Cabinet collective responsibility rather than personal conviction. Her participation rate of 62% (354 of 568 votes) sits below the Commons average, which is expected for a minister whose primary work happens in government rather than the chamber. Recent votes include backing new carbon budget orders, planning delegation reforms that remove councillors from small housing decisions, and Windsor Framework machinery regulations opposed by the DUP.

Her parliamentary contributions run to 730 across 76 debates, with transport dominating by a wide margin (64 debates), followed by economy and jobs (42) and local government (28). She deviates from her party's average notably on assisted dying — voting more consistently for access than most Labour MPs — and somewhat less aligned than colleagues on criminal justice reform and NHS funding votes. She sits on no select committees, which is standard for serving ministers.

The more revealing picture comes from news coverage. Alexander secured £20 million for a Wiltshire estate, championed a £165 million transport-linked housing fund, and has been publicly active on Swindon transport issues. Around 90% of her recent press coverage concerns transport, averaging a moderately positive sentiment score. For Swindon South constituents, their MP is simultaneously a senior Cabinet minister shaping national infrastructure policy and an active local advocate — an unusual combination that cuts both ways: significant leverage, but limited parliamentary independence.