Sir John Whittingdale

Biography

Parliamentary service

Party affiliations

Previous ministerial & opposition roles

Voting participation

257th of 650 current MPs · all MPs average 71.4% · Conservative average 73.8%

Participation by year

By Parliament

Participation counts aye, no or teller votes in Commons divisions held while the MP sat. Absence has many legitimate causes (pairing, illness, parental leave, ministerial or Speaker duties).

Parliamentary activity

467th of 650 current MPs · all MPs average 489 · Conservative average 669

Annual breakdown

Committee memberships

Current committees

joint 1st of 515 current MPs (488 tied) · all MPs average 99.6% · Conservative average 99.9%

Hansard activity

102nd of 650 current MPs · all MPs average 552 · Conservative average 899

Counts come from the Hansard record for the Commons and Westminster Hall within the dataset window. Individual contributions and topic analysis are not yet part of the dataset; search Hansard for the full record.

Parliamentary timeline

Generated from seat, party, role and committee records.

1. 1992

   • 9 April 1992 – Became MP for South Colchester and Maldon
   • 9 April 1992 – Joined Conservative

2. 1997

   • 1 May 1997 – Became MP for Maldon and East Chelmsford
   • 1 June 1997 – Appointed (opposition): Opposition Whip (Commons)

3. 1998

   • 1 June 1998 – Appointed (opposition): Shadow Spokesperson (Treasury)
   • 1 June 1998 – Left role: Opposition Whip (Commons)

4. 1999

   • 1 June 1999 – Left role: Shadow Spokesperson (Treasury)

5. 2001

   • 18 September 2001 – Appointed (opposition): Shadow Secretary of State (Trade and Industry)

6. 2002

   • 23 July 2002 – Appointed (opposition): Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
   • 23 July 2002 – Left role: Shadow Secretary of State (Trade and Industry)

7. 2003

   • 1 November 2003 – Appointed (opposition): Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
   • 15 November 2003 – Left role: Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

8. 2004

   • 1 July 2004 – Appointed (opposition): Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
   • 1 July 2004 – Left role: Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

9. 2005

   • 5 May 2005 – Left role: Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

10. 2008

    • 1 July 2008 – Appointed: Vice-Chair, Conservative Party 1922 Committee

11. 2010

    • 6 May 2010 – Became MP for Maldon

12. 2015

    • 30 March 2015 – Left role: Vice-Chair, Conservative Party 1922 Committee
    • 8 May 2015 – Appointed: Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

13. 2016

    • 14 July 2016 – Left role: Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

14. 2020

    • 13 February 2020 – Appointed: Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

15. 2021

    • 16 September 2021 – Left role: Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

16. 2023

    • 9 May 2023 – Appointed: Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
    • 9 May 2023 – Appointed: Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
    • 20 December 2023 – Left role: Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
    • 20 December 2023 – Left role: Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

17. 2024

    • 4 July 2024 – Became MP for Maldon
    • 19 July 2024 – Appointed (opposition): Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)
    • 21 October 2024 – Joined Foreign Affairs Committee
    • 6 November 2024 – Left role: Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care)

Constituency: Maldon