Labour Party MP for Bishop Auckland.
Rushworth's most defining recent act was voting against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at Third Reading on 20 June 2025 — one of five rebel votes he cast on the same day. He opposed the bill's final Commons passage, voted against Amendment 94 (which would have assessed palliative care provision), and rejected Amendment 77 (which would have recorded disability status in final statements). He did back two tightening amendments — New Clause 16, which would have blocked applications driven by fear of being a burden or by financial hardship, and Amendment 12, a procedural safeguard on independent doctors. The pattern is consistent: his deviations from Labour colleagues place him 47 percentage points below the party average on assisted dying access, and 33 points above on restrictions. His position is one of the clearest policy stances among Labour's 2024 intake.
Beyond that vote, Rushworth is a 96.5% party-line MP who participated in 73% of Commons divisions — slightly below the average. His speeches concentrate on economy and jobs, local government, health, and cost of living, consistent with a North East constituency facing economic pressures. He sits on the International Development Committee. His voting record shows strong alignment with workers' rights and progressive taxation, but low scores on parliamentary scrutiny and civil liberties — he voted with the government on the National Security (State Threats) Bill against amendments adding judicial oversight.
Two news stories carry a negative edge: a July 2025 report from Raptor Persecution UK alleged he received a £10,000 donation from a grouse moor gamekeeper group without adequate declaration. His health coverage is more positive — he raised mental health trust failings (TEWV) at PMQs and backed a constituent's Tourette's campaign. News sentiment over 90 days is broadly neutral across 120 articles.
Sam Rushworth is the Labour MP for Bishop Auckland, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.
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 Rushworth broke ranks. Free votes are the truer signal of personal stance.
| Date | Bill / motion | Vote | Whip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun 2025 | Crime and Policing Bill Report Stage: New Clause 106 | Yes | vs party |
| 17 Jun 2025 | Crime and Policing Bill Report Stage: New Clause 1 | No | vs party |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: Amendment 77 | No | Freevs party |
Source · Hansard
“Supported the campaign but advocated for the funding to work through competitive peer review and UKRI funding rounds rather than ringfencing, while urging government to ensure besp…”
“Urgent appointments are welcome but primary care access barely increased in two years; dentists sincere but resources insufficient; £1.5bn investment worth considering given £3 per…”
“Supports transparent labelling to highlight British products with superior welfare standards; constituents want honest food labelling, not misleading Union flags and fake farm name…”
“Challenges Conservative claims about voter ID impact; disputes official statistics on those turned away, citing evidence that 0.8% figure underestimates true impact; supports bank …”
Select, joint and other committees Rushworth 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 |
|---|---|---|
| International Development Committee | Member | Select |
Source · UK Parliament Committees API
Committee seats are where backbenchers shape legislation and hold departments to account. Rushworth sits on one.
| Department | Qs | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Defence | 4 | 23.5% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 3 | 17.6% |
| Treasury | 2 | 11.8% |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 2 | 11.8% |
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 2 | 11.8% |
| Department for Business and Trade | 1 | 5.9% |
| Department for Education | 1 | 5.9% |
| Department for Transport | 1 | 5.9% |
Food and Rural Affairs, how many Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreements have been accepted since September 2025; and how many farmers have been invited to apply for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
Since September 2025, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has invited 903 farmers to apply for a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) agreement. Over the same period the number of CSHT agreements that have been accepted is 431. The RPA co…read full →
Food and Rural Affairs, what the average waiting time is for applicants between between being invited to apply online by the Rural Payments Agency to secure a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreement and
The scheme is in an early stage “private beta” rollout where delivery times would be expected to be longer than normal. So far, the average time from invitation to apply to the Rural Payments Agency offering an agreement to the customer is …read full →
Food and Rural Affairs, whether everyone with a legacy Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreement that expired on 30 December 2025 secured a new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreement.
The new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) service opened for applications in September 2025 for groups who had been invited to apply. This included farmers land managers with existing Higher Tier agreements due to expire in Decembe…read full →
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Defence Industrial Strategy 2025 on Northern Ireland.
This month has shown just how volatile the world is and the importance of the investment this Government is making in our defences.My assessment is that the Defence Growth Deal’s potential is transformative for businesses small and large ac…read full →
The Coalition for Global Prosperity (CGP) 18 March 2026 to 18 June 2026 |
Name of company or organisation: Our World Research and Consultancy Ltd
Name of company or organisation: Our World Research and Consultancy Ltd
(Registered 1 August 2024) |
Name of company or organisation: African Dreams Ltd
Name of company or organisation: African Dreams Ltd
(Registered 1 August 2024) |
Trustee of Bishop Auckland Community Partnership (Four Clocks Centre). This is a Trustee of Bishop Auckland Community Partnership (Four Clocks Centre). This is an unpaid role.
(Registered 30 July 2024) |
Source · Members API · Last amended 29 Apr 2026
| Category | £ | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing | 149,077 | 70.3% |
| Accommodation | 28,061 | 13.2% |
| Office Costs | 23,596 | 11.1% |
| MP Travel | 6,110 | 2.9% |
| Staff Travel | 4,053 | 1.9% |
| Total · 195 claims | 212,170 | 100% |
Source · IPSA · FY 24_25
| Date | Item | Type | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 14 Jul | What steps he is taking to improve access to NHS dental services. | Tabled | Health and Social Care |
| Year | Constituency | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Bishop Auckland | 17,036 | 42.1% | Won |
| 2017 | Tatton | 13,977 | 28.5% | Lost |
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam RushworthWON | Lab | 17,036 | 42.1 |
Showing the MP’s own row only. Full result table: see Bishop Auckland →