Easington.

One of Labour's more rebellious backbenchers, Grahame Morris voted to refer Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the Privileges Committee in April 2026 -- backing an opposition motion to investigate whether Starmer misled Parliament over Peter Mandelson's US ambassadorial appointment. That vote came alongside a string of welfare rebellions in July 2025, when Morris voted three times against the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, opposing cuts to disability benefits and backing protections for people with fluctuating conditions. He also broke with Labour on the Crime and Policing Bill, rejecting the government's package of Lords amendments. Five rebel votes since 2025 mark him as a consistent, if selective, dissenter from his own front bench.

His overall voting record sits at 84% participation -- broadly in line with the Commons average -- with 95.9% party alignment overall, but his deviations are sharp and concentrated. He votes with Labour on progressive taxation (97%) and workers' rights (89%), but diverges dramatically on disability benefits, where he votes in line with protecting recipients in virtually every division -- 88 percentage points above his party's average. Speeches span economy and jobs, local government, crime, and transport, with 89 contributions across 55 debates. His most recent speech was in April 2026.

Context matters here: Morris chairs the coalfield MPs group and successfully lobbied for a pension boost benefiting hundreds of former miners in Easington -- coverage in the Northern Echo credited him directly. He has also pushed for geothermal energy investment in former coalfield areas and raised concerns about London councils relocating homeless families to the North East. He holds no select committee seat. Local news coverage over the past 90 days is high in volume but neutral in tone, dominated by crime and economy stories.