Leigh & Atherton / data
Jo Platt · Labour and Co-operative Party · sitting since 04 Jul 2024 · every division, speech and committee appearance.
Since election
680days
from 04 Jul 2024
Divisions
412
of 515 possible
Attendance
80%
103 absent / paired
Whip alignment
100%
vs party majority
Speeches
223
57 debates
Written Qs
206
191 answered
Committees
2
memberships
Expenses
£209k paid
FY 2024–2025 · 146 claims
Interests
2
1 category
A · Overview
Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted — engagement only, not direction.
| Issue | Volume | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxation | 91 | |
| Economy | 67 | |
| Education | 38 | |
| Crime & Policing | 38 | |
| Employment | 32 | |
| Welfare and Benefits | 27 | |
| Constitution and Democracy | 25 | |
| Housing | 24 |
Speech topics
Words spoken, by topic. Source: Hansard.
| Topic | Debates | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 1 | — |
| Economy Jobs | 20 | 4,091 |
| Local Government | 14 | 3,478 |
| Social Care | 11 | 3,275 |
| Health | 8 | 2,620 |
| Cost Of Living | 7 | 1,965 |
| Education | 7 | 1,590 |
| Culture Community | 5 | 857 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 2026 | Draft Medical Devices (Fees Amendment) Regulations 2026MPs voted on whether to approve new fee regulations for medical devices, which update the charges paid by manufacturers to the medicines reg… | Rebelled | No |
C · Speeches
| Date | Contribution | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 2026 | Culture, Media and Sport Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1339)Have you made any representations to the Department of Business and Trade about the impact of the framework on sporting events? | 21 |
| 28 Apr 2026 | Culture, Media and Sport Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1339)The new National Licensing Policy Framework reshapes how licensing is applied. Are you confident that the framework will improve consistency in things like event caps, operating ho… | 32 |
| 28 Apr 2026 | Culture, Media and Sport Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1339)You said it is broadly welcomed. Jon Collins, chief exec of LIVE, told us he is optimistic that the NLPF will help to deliver more consistency, but it is only to be noted at the mi… | 63 |
| 28 Apr 2026 | Culture, Media and Sport Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1339)To pose another point, is there not a risk that it becomes a postcode lottery, where different authorities do things differently, because it is guidance and not mandatory? | 28 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Business of the HouseAs Members will know, this week Parliament welcomed Prestur, the wonderful Icelandic horse showcasing the value of animal-assisted and community-based support for neurodivergent pe… Local GovernmentEconomy JobsEnergy | 119 |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Topical QuestionsT2. Happy St George’s day, Mr Speaker. The covid-19 inquiry exposed how long covid was repeatedly dismissed, despite its lasting impact on nearly 2 million people, including me. Ca… DefenceTechnologyEconomy Jobs | 68 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Culture, Media and Sport Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1764)Going back to the regional boards, there is advice that the regional boards limit local authority and regional authority representation. Do you think that local authorities and reg… | 54 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Culture, Media and Sport Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1764)Going back to Caroline’s question, there are swathes of organisations, as we know, that do not know that funding exists. There is also a risk that existing funding recipients becom… | 57 |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Culture, Media and Sport Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1764)That was really good to hear with regard to space. Just to declare an interest as well, I was a recipient of Arts Council funding for the organisation that I work for, which create… | 87 |
| 14 Apr 2026 | Crime and Policing BillWhen people talk about feeling safe where they live, they are talking not about spreadsheets or crime statistics, but about whether they feel okay walking home at night, whether th… CrimeTechnologyCulture Community | 565 |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Social Enterprises and Community OwnershipI beg to move, That this House has considered social enterprises and community ownership. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir John. When people make speeches about … Economy JobsLocal GovernmentCulture Community | 392 |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Social Enterprises and Community OwnershipThat is exactly what this debate is about: hearing about initiatives that are thriving all over the country, bringing them together, and creating the support that those organisatio… Economy JobsLocal GovernmentCulture Community | 647 |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Social Enterprises and Community OwnershipMy hon. Friend is a great advocate for the co-operative movement, whose birthplace is in his constituency. I absolutely agree with him—there is more the Government can do to suppor… Economy JobsLocal GovernmentCulture Community | 232 |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Social Enterprises and Community OwnershipI spoke very broadly about the value of social enterprise and community ownership, but to hear individual stories from across the country just shows the power that they have and th… Economy JobsLocal GovernmentCulture Community | 73 |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Culture, Media and Sport Committee — Oral Evidence (HC 1764)Another issue from my local area is culture being done to us. We get the big institutions coming in from Manchester city centre and taking over theatre space or art space that is p… | 88 |
D · Written questions
Top departments
| Department | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Social Care | 66 | 32.0% |
| Department for Education | 27 | 13.1% |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 24 | 11.7% |
| Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | 15 | 7.3% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 12 | 5.8% |
| Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 12 | 5.8% |
| Home Office | 11 | 5.3% |
| Department for Business and Trade | 10 | 4.9% |
Most recent
| Date | Department | Question | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 May 2026 | Department for Culture, Media and Sport | To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will take steps to support rights retention for independent producers in negotiations with global streaming platforms. | Pending |
| 13 May 2026 | Department for Culture, Media and Sport | To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of consulting on sub-quotas within future investment obligations to ensure a defined proportion of streamer spend is directed… | Pending |
| 13 May 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of collecting data on the number of pupils in each local authority receiving SEN support for literacy and dyslexia, particularly in… | Pending |
| 13 May 2026 | Department for Culture, Media and Sport | To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of providing support for independent producers impacted by inflation in talent, locations and IP acquisition. | Pending |
| 13 May 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish the number of pupils in England receiving SEN support for literacy and dyslexia. | Pending |
| 28 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 help ensure doctors and hospital staff receive adequate training and up-to-date awareness on Long-COVID and related post-viral conditions. | Pending |
| 28 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 ensure that primary and secondary care services have the capacity and expertise to meet demand for Long COVID assessment and treatment. | Pending |
| 28 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 ensure ICBs standardise Long COVID care across regions. | Pending |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of developing a joint workforce plan with the Department for Health and Social Care to support sustainability of Experts at Hand service. | Pending |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that individual needs are assessed and met through Specialist Provision Packages. | Pending |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Department for Education | To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of children with SEND are out of education. | Pending |
| 16 Apr 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of expanded Integrated Retirement Community provision on NHS and social care expenditure. | Pending |
| 15 Apr 2026 | Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the reuse and retrofitting of existing buildings as a lower carbon alternative to demolition and new build construction. | Pending |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Department of Health and Social Care | To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will consider a nationally defined prescribing pathway for ADHD within Right to Choose services. | Answered |
| 10 Apr 2026 | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of illegal trade on high streets and communities. | Answered |
E · Committees
| Committee | Role | House | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeSelect | Member | Commons | 21 Oct 2024 | present |
| Modernisation CommitteeSelect | Member | Commons | 09 Sept 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 | 112 | 29,858 | 14.3% |
| Accommodation | 16 | 16,141 | 7.7% |
| Staffing | 10 | 149,263 | 71.4% |
| MP Travel | 0 | 9,067 | 4.3% |
| Staff Travel | 0 | 4,597 | 2.2% |
Top itemised cost types
| Cost type | Category | Claims | Paid (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Accommodation | 6 | 10,519 |
| Rent | Office Costs | 9 | 10,080 |
| Training - staff | Staffing | 8 | 8,533 |
| Stationery & printing | Office Costs | 51 | 7,185 |
| Hotel - London | Accommodation | 9 | 4,710 |
| Equipment - purchase | Office Costs | 9 | 3,658 |
| Pooled staffing services | Staffing | 1 | 3,000 |
| Recruitment Services &Costs | Office Costs | 2 | 2,650 |
| Utilities | Office Costs | 12 | 1,705 |
| Software & applications | Office Costs | 6 | 1,556 |
| Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs | Office Costs | 2 | 1,083 |
| Cleaning services | Office Costs | 10 | 1,021 |
Most recent
| Date | Category | Description | Paid (£) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 May 2025 | Staffing Training - MP | [***] [***] [***] Claim 60280982-1 is a duplicate of 60274554-1 | 0 | Repaid |
| 01 Apr 2025 | Office Costs Rent | Rent | 1,440 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Rent | 2024-25 [***] rent pro-rata | -315 | Paid |
| 31 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Rent | 2024-25 [***] rent pro-rata | -1,440 | Paid |
| 28 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Electricity | 199 | Paid |
| 26 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Training - staff | CHILD POVERTY ACTION G [200011725-7811] | 90 | Paid |
| 26 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Training - staff | CHILD POVERTY ACTION G [200011725-7810] | 53 | Paid |
| 21 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | ASK PLATT OFFICE SUPPL [200011725-5887] | 421 | Paid |
| 20 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | ASK PLATT OFFICE SUPPL [200011726-6955] | 1,000 | Paid |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Cleaning services | March Cleaning | 92 | Paid |
| 13 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | Street surgery cards x 3000 | 93 | Paid |
| 13 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Water | 25 | Paid |
| 12 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Landline phone & internet - rental & usage | Landline & internet package | 99 | Paid |
| 10 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | ASK PLATT OFFICE SUPPL [200011726-3145] | 548 | Paid |
| 06 Mar 2025 | Accommodation Rent | Rent | 2,167 | Paid |
| 05 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Stationery & printing | AMZNMKTPLACE [***] [200011725-3236] | 5 | Paid |
| 04 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Rent | Rent | 1,440 | Paid |
| 04 Mar 2025 | Office Costs Equipment - purchase | Other office equipment | 16 | Paid |
| 28 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Utilities | Electricity | 244 | Paid |
| 26 Feb 2025 | Office Costs Cleaning services | February Window Clean | 7 | 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.
8. Miscellaneous2 entries
16 Aug 2024
Director of Pride In Leigh CIC, an organisation that hosts Pride events in Leigh. This is an unpaid role.
(Registered 31 July 2024)
16 Aug 2024
Co-opted Governor for Elysium Training. This is an unpaid role.
(Registered 31 July 2024)
H · Ward results
Most recent winning councillor in each ward — 4 wards, 4 councillor seats.
| Ward | Councillor | Party | Votes | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atherton North | Jamie Hodgkinson | Independent Network | 1,635 | 07 May 2026 |
| Atherton South Lilford | Martin James Farrimond | Reform UK | 2,027 | 07 May 2026 |
| Leigh Central Higher Folds | Tina Kennedy | Reform UK | 1,696 | 07 May 2026 |
| Lowton East | Simon Smith | Reform UK | 1,817 | 07 May 2026 |
I · Demographics
| Indicator | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021 Census) | 96,708 | Electorate 79,978 (2024) |
| Median age | 41 | years |
| Degree-educated | 25.4% | level 4 or above |
| Ethnicity (White) | 94.0% | 2021 Census ethnic group |
| Owner-occupied | 64.3% | households |
| Private-rented | 18.7% | households |
| Social-rented | 16.8% | households |
| Median weekly pay | £578 | ASHE |
| Employment rate | 58.1% | 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.