The Westminster lensMP · Independent · Sitting since 4 Jul 2024

James McMurdock.

Independent MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock.

Commons votes
227/521
44% attendance · top 92% of MPs
Party alignment
0%
on whipped divisions
Speeches
59
across 37 debates · 8,265 words
Written Qs
3,598
3,423 answered · 175 pending
Dispatch
31 May 2026

Independent MP in a politically split seat.

James McMurdock is the Independent MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.

§ 01Voting record.227 divisions · most recent 23 Mar 2026

By issue — what do they vote on most?

Top eight by total divisions voted, this parliament. Volume measures engagement, not direction — see Notable Votes for free-vote moments and rebellions.

Taxation67
Economy43
Employment26
Crime & Policing25
Education23
Housing20
Renters13
Energy12

Source · The Public Whip · Hansard

Notable votes — free votes & rebellions.

Moments where the whip was free, or where McMurdock broke ranks. Free votes are the truer signal of personal stance.

DateBill / motionVoteWhip
20 Oct 2025Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill Committee: Amendment 9Yes
vs party
28 Apr 2025Football Governance Bills [Lords]: Second ReadingNo
vs party
28 Apr 2025Football Governance Bills [Lords]: Reasoned Amendment to Second ReadingYes
vs party
§ 02Speeches.59 contributions · 37 debates · 8,265 words

Words spoken, by topic.

Economy & Jobs4,498
Environment2,427
Local Government2,290
Fiscal Policy1,505
Technology1,417
Transport1,176
Crime1,171
Ind avg / MP All-MP avgper topic, words per MP

Source · Hansard

Recent contributions.

26 Jan

Animal Rescue Centres

Cautious about expanding licensing regimes; argues existing Animal Welfare Act powers are underused and warns that heavy-handed regulation could harm the sector; calls for better e

575 words·Read
12 Jan

Local Elections: Basildon and Thurrock

Accepts the locally-led approach but seeks stronger checks and balances to ensure postponement criteria meet constituent expectations rather than being justified on weak grounds.

91 words·Read
24 Nov

Homelessness Guidance

The homelessness code of guidance has loopholes that allow local councils to improperly reclassify bed and breakfast units as self-contained accommodation, placing vulnerable peopl

139 words·Read
17 Nov

Channel Crossings

The NAO projects £15.3 billion on asylum accommodation over 10 years for people who may commit crimes; the public questions why money is spent on those who pose no benefit to Brita

96 words·Read
Showing 4 of 59·All 59 speeches
§ 03Committees & roles.Select & joint committees
None recorded

McMurdock holds no select-committee seat this session. New 2024-intake MPs typically wait one term before being appointed.

§ 04Written questions.3,598 tabled · 3,423 answered · 14 Oct 2024 → 29 May 2026

Top departments asked.

DepartmentQsShare
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government52414.6%
Department of Health and Social Care47113.1%
Home Office40111.1%
Department for Education36410.1%
Department for Transport2216.1%
Treasury1995.5%
Department for Work and Pensions1935.4%
Ministry of Justice1805.0%

Most recent.

29 May 2026·Department for Work and Pensions·Pending

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Huge recruitment boost to tackle backlog in vital disability work scheme, published on 19 May 2026, what analysis he has undertaken of the causes of the increase in Access to Work claims since 2018-19.

Awaiting answer.

29 May 2026·Ministry of Defence·Pending

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Next-generation remote controlled artillery systems to transform British Army, published on 13 May 2026, what proportion of the RCH 155 programme’s supply chain expenditure will be spent with UK-based suppliers.

Awaiting answer.

29 May 2026·Department for Work and Pensions·Pending

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Huge recruitment boost to tackle backlog in vital disability work scheme, published on 19 May 2026, what estimate he has made of the proportion of non-urgent Access to Work applications awaiting decisions for more than 28 days.

Awaiting answer.

29 May 2026·Department for Work and Pensions·Pending

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Huge recruitment boost to tackle backlog in vital disability work scheme, published on 19 May 2026, what estimate he has made of the average waiting time for non-urgent Access to Work application decisions in (a) Essex and (b) the UK as of May 2026.

Awaiting answer.

Showing 4 of 3598·All 3,598 written questions
§ 05Register & expenses.1 declared interests · £172k claimed FY 24_25

Register of interests.

Directorship of Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited. This is a dormant company a
Directorship of Gym Live Health and Fitness Limited. This is a dormant company awaiting strike off. Date interest arose: 4 July 2024 (Regi…

Source · Members API · Last amended 2 Sept 2025

IPSA expenses.

Category£Share
Staffing158,96092.6%
Accommodation6,5553.8%
Office Costs3,0591.8%
MP Travel1,5640.9%
Staff Travel1,5320.9%
Total · 51 claims171,670100%
Showing 5 of 51·All 51 IPSA claims

Source · IPSA · FY 24_25

§ 06This week in Westminster.Order paper · refreshed daily

Nothing tabled for McMurdock on the published Order Paper this week.

§ 07Electoral history.1 contest · 2024, 2024
YearConstituencyVotesShareResult
2024South Basildon and East Thurrock12,17830.8%Won

2024 — full result, South Basildon and East Thurrock.

CandidateVotes%
James McMurdockWONRef12,17830.8

Showing the MP’s own row only. Full result table: see South Basildon and East Thurrock

Sources, methods & last update
Method The dispatch paragraphs are AI-generated from the public sources listed below. Every figure links to its source. If we’re wrong, please tell us — corrections within 48 hours.
DivisionsHansard
The Public Whip
Updated 31 May 2026
SpeechesHansard · 8,265 words
8 Sept 2024 → 2 Mar 2026
Written QsMembers API
3,598 tabled · 3,423 answered
CommitteesCommittees API
None recorded
RegisterMembers API
1 entries
ExpensesIPSA
£171,670 · FY 24_25
Order paperUK Parliament
Refreshed daily
ElectionsElectoral Commission
DCLEAPIL