Labour Party MP for Luton South and South Bedfordshire.
One of the most actively engaged MPs in the Commons, Rachel Hopkins votes at a 96% participation rate — well above the average for the chamber — and has backed the government on every significant recent vote, from the Immigration and Asylum Bill to trade union ballot reforms. Her single recorded rebel vote, in March 2025, was a procedural one: she acted as a teller for a motion to sit in private, placing her on the opposite side of a vote the party majority opposed. It is a thin rebellion by any measure, and her 99.8% party alignment makes her one of Labour's most loyal MPs.
Her parliamentary pattern is consistent and high-volume — 228 contributions across 158 debates — with speeches concentrated on the economy and jobs, local government, social care, and health. Her stance data flags one genuine policy deviation: she sits notably to the left of her parliamentary Labour colleagues on assisted dying, scoring 31 percentage points more aligned with expanding access than the party average. She sits on the Modernisation Committee, a role that fits her record of supporting procedural change, including her vote to modernise trade union balloting.
Outside Westminster, coverage from Luton Today tells a picture of visible local campaigning: she initiated a petition on pavement parking enforcement, visited schools during Parliament Week, wrote opinion pieces backing the Representation of the People Bill, and claimed credit for long-running advocacy that secured step-free access works at Luton Thameslink station. News sentiment data for the most recent 90 days is insufficient to assess trends, but prior coverage skews positive on constituent engagement.
Rachel Hopkins is the Labour MP for Luton South and South Bedfordshire, and has been an MP continually since 12 December 2019.
Top eight by total divisions voted, this parliament. Volume measures engagement, not direction — see Notable Votes for free-vote moments and rebellions.
Source · The Public Whip · Hansard
Moments where the whip was free, or where Hopkins broke ranks. Free votes are the truer signal of personal stance.
| Date | Bill / motion | Vote | Whip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 2025 | Motion to sit in private | Yes | vs party |
Source · Hansard
“Councils delivered highest annual social and affordable homes since 1991-92; government investment programme must accelerate to deliver post-war era level of council house building…”
“Emphasised the vital role and safety concerns of train drivers, expressed solidarity with Shaun Burton's colleagues and ASLEF union, and asked what the government is doing to suppo…”
“The UK must take the fight to the sources of disinformation and expose state actors behind the information warfare targeting Ukraine.”
“The UK should learn from Northern Ireland's public health successes and share knowledge across the UK to improve patient outcomes.”
Select, joint and other committees Hopkins currently sits on. Committee work is where much of the line-by-line scrutiny of bills and departments happens, away from the chamber.
| Committee | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Modernisation Committee | Member | Select |
Source · UK Parliament Committees API
Committee seats are where backbenchers shape legislation and hold departments to account. Hopkins sits on one.
| Department | Qs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department for Work and Pensions | 3 | 25.0% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 2 | 16.7% |
| Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 1 | 8.3% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 1 | 8.3% |
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 1 | 8.3% |
| Home Office | 1 | 8.3% |
| Department for Business and Trade | 1 | 8.3% |
| Women and Equalities | 1 | 8.3% |
Pursuant to his oral answer of 14 October 2025, Official Report, col 189, what plans he has to extend grants for solar panels on public buildings in non-Mayoral areas.
Great British Energy (GBE), intends to provide support to local authorities in delivering local and community energy projects across the UK, including in areas without Mayoral Combined Authorities. This will include consideration of targete…read full →
What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current pricing of licenses for the all-year storage and sale of fireworks of up to 2,000kg in content, in the context of the cost of the license having not increased since 2004.
DBT has made no recent assessment as to the current pricing of licenses for storage and sale of fireworks. Section 7 (2) of the Fireworks Act 2003 contains the provision to set the fees for licensing of fireworks suppliers. Fees for firewor…read full →
Whether financial resources will be made available to charities and voluntary groups organising public events in order for them to comply with the provisions of the Terrorism (Protection Of Premises) Act 2025.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 will strengthen protective security and preparedness by requiring those responsible for certain premises and events, including those run by charities and voluntary groups, to consider how they…read full →
Communities and Local Government, what recent progress her Department has made on implementing the Remediation Acceleration Plan.
Progress has been made in many areas, such as identifying remaining buildings with unsafe cladding, making developer remediation progress information more accessible for public scrutiny, and increasing regulator funding to build and maintai…read full →
Type of land/property: Residential property (house, used also for my partner's b Type of land/property: Residential property (house, used also for my partner's business)
Number of properties: 1
Location: Luton
(Registe… |
Unpaid Vice President of the LGA, which works with councils to support, promote Unpaid Vice President of the LGA, which works with councils to support, promote and improve local government.
Date interest arose: 30 Decem… |
Source · Members API · Last amended 18 Apr 2024
| Category | £ | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing | 224,181 | 88.5% |
| Office Costs | 19,602 | 7.7% |
| Accommodation | 4,845 | 1.9% |
| MP Travel | 4,183 | 1.7% |
| Staff Travel | 578 | 0.2% |
| Total · 146 claims | 253,388 | 100% |
Source · IPSA · FY 24_25
Nothing tabled for Hopkins on the published Order Paper this week.
| Year | Constituency | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Luton South and South Bedfordshire | 13,593 | 35.4% | Won |
| 2019 | Luton South | 21,787 | 51.8% | Won |
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rachel HopkinsWON | Lab | 13,593 | 35.4 |
Showing the MP’s own row only. Full result table: see Luton South and South Bedfordshire →