MP speaks in 109 debates

‘Above average’ result for Margaret Ferrier

Rutherglen and Hamilton West MP Margaret Ferrier has spoken in over 100 debates in parliament since making her maiden speech a year ago last week.

Ms Ferrier announced herself to Westminster on June 8, 2015.

According to the They Work For You website, where the data was taken from, she has made a total of 109 speeches, well above the average for MP’s.

She has also received 139 answers to written questions, again above the average.

Her record of voting 58 per cent of the time is well below the average, although this is likely to be due to the SNP’s policy of not voting on matters that do not affect Scotland.

In the 2015/ 16 session of parliament Ms Ferrier supported 400 early day motions.

Of those, she proposed 24 of them. These included two on the campaign by South Lanarkshire parents against school bus changes.

She sponsored a further 124 in that time.

Her speeches in Hansard, are readable by an average 16–17 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.

Despite compiling the figures, They Work For You urge caution on using their figures to determine how good or bad a job an MP is doing.

On their website they say: “We realise that data such as the number of debates spoken in means little in terms of an MP’s actual performance. MPs do lots of useful things which we don’t count yet, and some which we never could. Even when we do, a count doesn’t measure the quality of an MPs contribution.

“Our advice — when you’re judging your MP, read some of their speeches, check out their website, even go to a local meeting and ask them a question.”

Go to www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25287/margaret_ferrier/rutherglen_and_hamilton_west for a full rundown on Ms Ferrier’s activity at parliament.