Conservative and Unionist Party MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston.
A steady, loyalist backbencher with an active local profile, Neil O'Brien has spent recent weeks voting in line with Conservative opposition positions on employment law, climate policy, and criminal justice. He voted against extending employment tribunal time limits from three to six months, opposing what the government framed as a worker protection measure on the grounds that it burdens employers and worsens tribunal backlogs. He also voted against both the Draft Carbon Budget Order and the associated Climate Change Act credit limit order — positions consistent with his stance profile, which shows just 27% alignment with pro-climate-action votes.
At Westminster, O'Brien is a 100% party-line voter with no rebel votes on record, making him one of the more reliable Conservative MPs in terms of party discipline. His participation rate of 69% sits somewhat below the Commons average. His speeches — 546 contributions across 106 debates — cluster heavily around education, the economy, and social care, suggesting these are his primary policy interests rather than incidental concerns. He scores 95% on pro-business votes and 100% against tax increases, giving him a consistent centre-right economic profile.
Outside the chamber, O'Brien has been conspicuously active on constituency matters. He mobilised a 12,000-signature petition against proposals to merge Harborough District Council with Leicester City, publicly opposed the Light and Life festival's return following resident complaints, and championed a high-profile campaign over dangerous road junctions. News coverage over the past 90 days leans neutral to slightly positive on local-government and planning issues, though crime coverage — the largest category — averages close to zero in MP relevance. No committee roles are currently recorded.
Neil O'Brien is the Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, and has been an MP continually since 8 June 2017. He currently undertakes the role of Shadow Minister (Policy Renewal and Development).
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 O'Brien broke ranks. Free votes are the truer signal of personal stance.
No rebellions or free votes recorded yet.
Source · Hansard
“Reorganisation is undemocratic, opposed by constituents (97% voted against it), will increase council tax, and destroy local identity and accountability.”
“The government is repeating a pattern of backsliding; withholding documents entirely from the ISC violates the Humble Address and undermines parliamentary sovereignty.”
“Government admits system is broken but will only 'look at' it; Plan 2 graduates pay more than borrowed with perverse incentives; reform must cap interest and fund apprenticeships w…”
“The Prime Minister's judgment is the real problem, not process; he ignored available information about Mandelson and Epstein and must take personal responsibility; Morgan McSweeney…”
O'Brien holds no select-committee seat this session. New 2024-intake MPs typically wait one term before being appointed.
| Department | Qs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Department for Education | 131 | 16.2% |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 108 | 13.3% |
| Ministry of Justice | 87 | 10.7% |
| Home Office | 83 | 10.2% |
| Department of Health and Social Care | 64 | 7.9% |
| Treasury | 50 | 6.2% |
| Department for Transport | 42 | 5.2% |
| Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 30 | 3.7% |
With reference to the Department of Work and Pensions Freedom of Information Act response, reference FOI2026/51669 dated 6 June 2026, how many WCA decisions for non-ESA transition claimants in the period January 2022 to February 2026 were recorded as having a mental and behavioural disorder as their only recorded medical condition.
Awaiting answer.
With reference to the Department of Work and Pensions Freedom of Information Act response, reference FOI2026/51669 dated 6 June 2026, what proportion of WCA decisions for non-ESA transition claimants in the period January 2022 to February 2026 were recorded as having conditions in a) two, b) three and c) four or more ICD-10 chapters.
Awaiting answer.
Pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2026 to Question 4373 on Universal Credit: Work Capability Assessment and with reference to the Freedom of Information Act response with reference FOI2026/51669, disclosed on 6 July 2026, if he will publish that response.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, for a breakdown of the programme gross spend and income of RDEL in the Housing and Planning Estimate Line in FY 2024/5, with reference to MHCLG's Annual Report 2024/5, SoPS 1.1.
Awaiting answer.
A member of the advisory board of Onward, a think tank which aims to produce mod A member of the advisory board of Onward, a think tank which aims to produce modernising ideas to address some of the biggest challenges fac… |
Source · Members API · Last amended 18 Apr 2024
| Category | £ | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing | 242,307 | 77.6% |
| Accommodation | 32,656 | 10.5% |
| Office Costs | 25,424 | 8.1% |
| MP Travel | 9,253 | 3.0% |
| Staff Travel | 2,289 | 0.7% |
| Total · 148 claims | 312,336 | 100% |
Source · IPSA · FY 24_25
Nothing tabled for O'Brien on the published Order Paper this week.
| Year | Constituency | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Harborough, Oadby and Wigston | 18,614 | 36.9% | Won |
| 2019 | Harborough | 31,698 | 55.3% | Won |
| 2017 | Harborough | 30,135 | 52.3% | Won |
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neil O'BrienWON | Con | 18,614 | 36.9 |
Showing the MP’s own row only. Full result table: see Harborough, Oadby and Wigston →