Andy McDonald
Labour - Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
9,192 (26.7%) majority - 2024 General ElectionFirst elected: 29th November 2012
5 APPG memberships (as of 28 Mar 2025)
Acquired Brain Injury, Chagos (British Indian Ocean Territory), Medical Cannabis under Prescription, Palestine, Spinal Cord Injury13 Former APPG memberships
Chemical Industry, City Regions Transport, Energy Intensive Industries, Epilepsy, Housing in the North, Industrial Heritage, Kashmir, Learning Disability, Medical Cannabis on or under Prescription, Public Accountability, Rail in the North, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, Transport Across the NorthDivision Voting information
Andy McDonald voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 147 Labour No votes vs 234 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 330 Noes - 275
Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(12 debate interactions)
(7 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(15 debate contributions)
(12 debate contributions)
(9 debate contributions)
(9 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(1,952 words contributed)
(1,948 words contributed)
(89 words contributed)
(67 words contributed)
Middlesbrough and Thornaby East Petitions
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
of 39,285 signatures (0.31%)
of 59,379 signatures (0.19%)
of 227,074 signatures (0.18%)
of 147,268 signatures (0.17%)
of 227,074 signatures (0.18%)
of 235,227 signatures (0.16%)
of 247,556 signatures (0.13%)
of 147,268 signatures (0.17%)
Latest EDMs signed by Andy McDonald
British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme
Tabled by: Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru - Caerfyrddin)That this House is deeply concerned regarding the impact of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS) scandal; notes that, in the Autumn Budget, the Government released equivalent funds from the Miners’ Pension Scheme (MPS), but this welcome move to improve former miners’ pensions was not extended to the BCSSS; …
(Most recent: 24 Apr 2025)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 14
Plaid Cymru: 4
Scottish National Party: 2
Liberal Democrat: 2
Conservative: 1
Libraries in state primary schools
Tabled by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)That this House welcomes the National Literacy Trust and Penguin Random House’s Libraries for Primaries campaign; is concerned that research shows that one in seven state primary schools in the UK do not have a library or dedicated library space; understands that children in disadvantaged areas are disproportionately affected by …
(Most recent: 23 Apr 2025)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 13
Liberal Democrat: 4
Independent: 3
Green Party: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Andy McDonald, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
2 Urgent Questions tabled by Andy McDonald
Andy McDonald has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
2 Bills introduced by Andy McDonald
A Bill to amend the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 to make provision about supplementary powers for the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to secure information from public bodies; and for connected purposes.
Thursday 16th July 2015
A Bill to make provision about liability for negligence in relation to psychiatric illness; toamend the law relating to damages in respect of personal injuries and death; and forconnected purposes.
Tuesday 13th October 2015
5 Bills co-sponsored by Andy McDonald
Road Traffic (Testing of Blood) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Jonathan Gullis (Con)
Free School Meals (Primary Schools) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Zarah Sultana (Ind)
Bullying and respect at work Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Rachael Maskell (LAB)
Town and Country Planning (Electricity Generating Consent) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Tom Blenkinsop (Lab)
Town and Country Planning (Electricity Generating Consent) Bill 2015-16
Sponsor - Tom Blenkinsop (Lab)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)Paragraph 2.13 of the Ministerial Code states: ‘the fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised and the content of their advice must not be disclosed outside Government without their authority’. This is known as the Law Officers’ Convention, and it applies to your question.
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Employment Rights Bill will ensure the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. This will include the introduction of the Two-Tier Code which will ensure fair and equitable employment conditions for public sector workers who have been transferred and private sector workers who work alongside them on public service contracts.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The National Procurement Policy Statement will set out the Government’s policy priorities, and contracting authorities will have to have regard to it when carrying out procurements. The Policy Statement will consult on introducing a new public interest test to assess whether work should be outsourced or if it could be done more effectively and drive better value for money in-house.
We have begun to assess the areas of Government that could be done more effectively in house, and where there may be compelling reasons for Government to develop their own capabilities and capacity to deliver good value for money and better public services.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The National Procurement Policy Statement will set out the Government’s policy priorities, and contracting authorities will have to have regard to it when carrying out procurements. The Policy Statement will consult on introducing a new public interest test to assess whether work should be outsourced or if it could be done more effectively and drive better value for money in-house.
We have begun to assess the areas of Government that could be done more effectively in house, and where there may be compelling reasons for Government to develop their own capabilities and capacity to deliver good value for money and better public services.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The National Procurement Policy Statement will set out the Government’s policy priorities, and contracting authorities will have to have regard to it when carrying out procurements. The Policy Statement will consult on introducing a new public interest test to assess whether work should be outsourced or if it could be done more effectively and drive better value for money in-house.
We have begun to assess the areas of Government that could be done more effectively in house, and where there may be compelling reasons for Government to develop their own capabilities and capacity to deliver good value for money and better public services.
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Given the historic nature of the infected blood scandal, the Government recognises that not all medical records will still be available. The Scheme has been designed to minimise as far as possible the burden on those applying, and as set out in the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2024, eligibility for the Scheme will be determined based on the balance of probabilities. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority will provide assistance to those who believe their medical records have been lost or destroyed.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The F-35 programme is the largest international collaborative defence programme in the world. The UK cannot make changes to the F-35 programme unilaterally – any change requires agreement across all Partner Nations. Regular discussions with programme partners on the operation of the programme are ongoing.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government is committed to delivering a genuine living wage for working people, and removing the discriminatory age bands, so that all adults can benefit.
The new Low Pay Commission (LPC) remit asks the LPC to make progress on extending the National Living Wage to all adults. This will be achieved in the coming years, with the Government basing this decision on robust evidence, as well as the recommendations from the Low Pay Commission.
The new remit is clear that this ambition should be pursued while also taking into account the effects on employment of younger workers, incentives for them to remain in training or education and the wider economy.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has issued a new remit to the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to recommend a National Living Wage (NLW) which takes into account the impact on business, competitiveness, the labour market, the wider economy and for the first time this year, the cost of living, including the expected annual trends in inflation.
When recommending rates, the LPC carries out extensive research and consultation, drawing on economic, labour market and pay analysis, independent research, and stakeholder evidence to inform its recommendations.
When setting new rates, the Government publishes an Impact Assessment (IA) for that year’s increases this sets out the evidence base that informs the Government’s decision on the rate.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has issued a new remit to the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to recommend a National Living Wage (NLW) which takes into account the impact on business, competitiveness, the labour market, the wider economy and for the first time this year, the cost of living, including the expected annual trends in inflation.
When recommending rates, the LPC carries out extensive research and consultation, drawing on economic, labour market and pay analysis, independent research, and stakeholder evidence to inform its recommendations.
When setting new rates, the Government publishes an Impact Assessment (IA) for that year’s increases this sets out the evidence base that informs the Government’s decision on the rate.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Ofgem’s investigation into the involuntary installation of prepayment meters (PPMs) by British Gas is ongoing. This is a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator, and it would not be appropriate for the government to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem’s investigation into the involuntary installation of prepayment meters (PPMs) by British Gas is ongoing. This is a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator, and it would not be appropriate for the government to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Ofgem’s investigation into the involuntary installation of prepayment meters (PPMs) by British Gas is ongoing. This is a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator, and it would not be appropriate for the government to comment on an ongoing investigation.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In March 2023, British Gas previously confirmed that it installed 25,000 PPMs under warrant in 2022. If any of these installations were completed wrongfully then it is vital that affected customers are appropriately compensated.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The setting of the energy price cap is a matter for the independent regulator Ofgem. The earnings before tax and interest (EBIT) allowance allows energy suppliers to make a reasonable profit that ensures long-term investment, while limiting excess profits.
The law requires Ofgem to ensure the cap level reflects the underlying efficient costs of supplying energy.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government continues to work closely with Ofgem to ensure that the price cap continues to protect consumers from unfair prices.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The latest published Warm Home Discount statistics are for 2023/4 and use the constituency boundaries operating prior to the 2024 General Election. Most (82%) of the residential premises in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East constituency come from Middlesbrough constituency under the previous boundaries, in which 9,708 households received the Warm Home Discount rebate in 2023-24. The statistics only cover receipt of the Warm Home Discount and not eligibility.
We don't have constituency-level estimates of likely numbers of future recipients of the Warm Home Discount under the potential expansion set out in the recent consultation. At a national level, we expect around an 80% increase in overall eligibility, but this will vary at local level due to e.g. differences in demographics, household makeup or the balance of rented vs owner-occupied properties, since these kind of factors could affect the likelihood of the benefit recipient (or their partner or appointee) being named on their energy bill (which is a requirement for eligibility).
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/warm-home-discount-statistics-2023-to-2024
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The latest published Warm Home Discount statistics are for 2023/4 and use the constituency boundaries operating prior to the 2024 General Election. Most (82%) of the residential premises in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East constituency come from Middlesbrough constituency under the previous boundaries, in which 9,708 households received the Warm Home Discount rebate in 2023-24. The statistics only cover receipt of the Warm Home Discount and not eligibility.
We don't have constituency-level estimates of likely numbers of future recipients of the Warm Home Discount under the potential expansion set out in the recent consultation. At a national level, we expect around an 80% increase in overall eligibility, but this will vary at local level due to e.g. differences in demographics, household makeup or the balance of rented vs owner-occupied properties, since these kind of factors could affect the likelihood of the benefit recipient (or their partner or appointee) being named on their energy bill (which is a requirement for eligibility).
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/warm-home-discount-statistics-2023-to-2024
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government is committed to spreading opportunities and economic growth, supported by a strong skills system.
This government has an extremely challenging fiscal inheritance. There are tough choices that need to be taken on how funding should be prioritised in order to generate opportunities for young people that enable them to make a start in good, fulfilling careers, and the department will therefore be asking more employers to step forward and fund a significant number of level 7 apprenticeships themselves outside of the levy-funded Growth and Skills offer.
The department has received a wide range of representations, which it is currently considering. These have been received directly and via Skills England, which has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on this matter and has shared its findings with the department.
The department recognises the importance of providing clarity as soon as possible on future funding for level 7 apprenticeships and will communicate next steps in due course.
The department also continues to work across government to tackle the skills needs of different sectors, including addressing the skills gaps in the health and social care industry which were identified in Skills England’s first report on driving growth and widening opportunities.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is committed to spreading opportunities and economic growth, supported by a strong skills system.
This government has an extremely challenging fiscal inheritance. There are tough choices that need to be taken on how funding should be prioritised in order to generate opportunities for young people that enable them to make a start in good, fulfilling careers, and the department will therefore be asking more employers to step forward and fund a significant number of level 7 apprenticeships themselves outside of the levy-funded Growth and Skills offer.
The department has received a wide range of representations, which it is currently considering. These have been received directly and via Skills England, which has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on this matter and has shared its findings with the department.
The department recognises the importance of providing clarity as soon as possible on future funding for level 7 apprenticeships and will communicate next steps in due course.
The department also continues to work across government to tackle the skills needs of different sectors, including addressing the skills gaps in the health and social care industry which were identified in Skills England’s first report on driving growth and widening opportunities.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is committed to spreading opportunities and economic growth, supported by a strong skills system.
This government has an extremely challenging fiscal inheritance. There are tough choices that need to be taken on how funding should be prioritised in order to generate opportunities for young people that enable them to make a start in good, fulfilling careers, and the department will therefore be asking more employers to step forward and fund a significant number of level 7 apprenticeships themselves outside of the levy-funded Growth and Skills offer.
The department has received a wide range of representations, which it is currently considering. These have been received directly and via Skills England, which has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on this matter and has shared its findings with the department.
The department recognises the importance of providing clarity as soon as possible on future funding for level 7 apprenticeships and will communicate next steps in due course.
The department also continues to work across government to tackle the skills needs of different sectors, including addressing the skills gaps in the health and social care industry which were identified in Skills England’s first report on driving growth and widening opportunities.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Middlesbrough and Thornaby to the answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23140.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Support delivered by regional improvement for standards and excellence teams has been backed by an over £20 million investment. They will draw up, working with high quality organisations, bespoke improvement plans with eligible schools, with the department making up to £100,000 available initially to each school for specialist support. This compares to a £6,000 grant that was available previously for similar schools.
Minister of State (Education)
The department has introduced its new regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) teams to help drive high and rising standards. In advance of Ofsted school report cards being introduced later this year, schools will be eligible to receive bespoke RISE interventions if they have not had a change of structure since their last inspection, and:
- were previously due to receive structural intervention after 1 January
- are a ‘stuck’ school – defined as a school that was graded requires improvement, or equivalent based on sub-judgements, at their most recent Ofsted inspection, and were also graded below good at their previous inspection; or
- are in a category of concern.
The department is consulting on future eligibility criteria for targeted RISE intervention following the introduction of new Ofsted school report cards.
Minister of State (Education)
The department recognises the challenges that many kinship carers face in continuing to work alongside the pressures of taking in a child, and we believe they should be supported to remain in work where possible.
Kinship carers are likely to benefit from additional support and flexibility from their employers to help them balance work with providing the best possible care. Our guidance for employers, ‘Kinship Carers in the Workplace’, sets out best practice for supporting kinship carers at work.
The department will join a small number of private sector employers in offering a pay and leave entitlement to all eligible staff who become kinship carers.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
6 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Andy McDonald's Defra questions)Applications to the Smaller Abattoir Fund (SAF) closed on 30 September. All abattoirs eligible under the SAF are registered and approved by the Food Standards Agency, who are also consulted during the assessment of applications. The Food Standards Agency monitor and enforce animal welfare regulations in all approved slaughterhouses.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to creating a roadmap to a circular economy, a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives. As part of this we will consider the role of residual waste treatment, including energy from waste and landfill, in the context of circularity, economic growth, and reaching net zero.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK Government is committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and wants to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards.
Intergovernmental discussions between Defra and the devolved Governments on animal welfare matters are ongoing and the use of enriched ‘colony’ cages is an issue we will want to fully consider in due course.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards.
The use of enriched ‘colony’ cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for pigs is an issue we will want to fully consider in due course.
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Secretary of State recently announced a series of initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector. This included announcing consumers will gain new powers to hold water company bosses to account through powerful new customer panels. For the first time in history, customers will have the power to summon board members and hold water executives to account.
We will provide further details on these panels in the coming months.
I would also refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 18 July: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have not received any notifications from harbour authorities of surcharge notifications being issued. Given that operators have 3 months from the date of the request of an equivalence declaration to provide a declaration before a surcharge is imposed and the Act came into force on 1 December 2024, it is too early to expect any surcharge notifications to have been made.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Seafarers' Wages Act and Regulations do not make provision for the publication of requests for declarations under the Act.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Seafarers' Wages Act and Regulations do not make provision for the publication of requests for declarations under the Act.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 and Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024 do not require harbour authorities to inform the Secretary of State of requests for declarations, or of responses to requests of declarations from operators.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 and Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024 do not require harbour authorities to inform the Secretary of State of requests for declarations, or of responses to requests of declarations from operators.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This government is committed to making the railway more accessible. Since 2006, the Access for All Programme has upgraded more than 250 stations to deliver step free access across Great Britain. Details on the accessibility and facilities for each station can be found on the National Rail Enquires or individual train operating company websites.
All trains in service meet the relevant accessibility requirements and are built around accommodating wheelchair dimensions of 1200mm by 700mm but not mobility scooters.
Operators may offer a scooter card scheme which allows passengers to apply for a permit for the carriage of their scooter based on its dimensions and other relevant information reasonably requested by the operator. This flexibility is allowed by the ORR given the variety of mobility scooters, different types rolling stock that may call at an operator’s station (often for different operators’ services), as well as the potential infrastructure restrictions at stations. ORR require operators to publish clear information about what mobility scooters they do / don’t accept, and where and this information is available on operators’ websites.
Since 2010, over 8,800 new vehicles out of a fleet of over 15,200 vehicles have been ordered by train operators to replace vehicles that did not meet modern accessibility requirements.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Train and station operators are required by their operating licences to establish and comply with an Accessible Travel Policy (ATP) which must be approved by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). An ATP sets out, among other things, the arrangements and assistance that an operator will provide to protect the interests of disabled people using its services and to facilitate such use.
Operators may offer a scooter card scheme which allows passengers to apply for a permit for the carriage of their scooter based on its dimensions and other relevant information reasonably requested by the operator. This flexibility is allowed by the ORR given the variety of mobility scooters, different types rolling stock that may call at an operator’s station (often for different operators’ services), as well as the potential infrastructure restrictions at stations. ORR require operators to publish clear information about what mobility scooters they do / don’t accept, and where and this information is available on operators’ websites.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The review of the PIP assessment will be a major undertaking which will take time and require extensive engagement. To make sure we get this right, we will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review. We will provide further details as plans progress.
Any changes to the PIP assessment would only be introduced following the reforms set out in the Green Paper. In the meantime, the changes to PIP eligibility will be introduced via a Bill so that Parliament can fully debate and vote on these changes.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We will establish ‘collaboration committees’ to further develop our reforms and we are currently working through which areas the committees will discuss. We particularly want to work with disabled people on how our additional investment in employment support, rising to £1 billion per year by 2029-30, should be deployed.
It will not be possible to have a collaboration committee for every work area in the Green Paper due to the nature of policy development. Where this is the case, we will still ensure that we draw on a wide range of evidence, including the experience of people who have used our services as we develop policy.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the impacts of the “Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper” will be published in due course, with some information already published alongside the Spring Statement.
However, the OBR does not publish impacts of policies at a more localised level.
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on the impacts of the “Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper” will be published in due course, with some information already published alongside the Spring Statement.
However, the OBR does not publish impacts of policies at a more localised level.
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No assessment has yet been made.
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No assessment has yet been made.
Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.
A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)