A Nottinghamshire Labour MP has criticised a “desperate attack” by local councillors who say he has barely spoken in Parliament since being elected a year ago. Conservative councillors in Gedling say that a year on since Michael Payne was chosen to be the area’s MP, he has asked just two questions in the House of Commons.
The councillors say this is the lowest of all Nottinghamshire MPs and far lower than Mr Payne’s predecessors as Gedling MP from both parties. In their first years as Gedling MP, Conservative councillors Mike Adams and Darren Maltby say Andrew Mitchell asked 13 questions, Vernon Coaker asked 17 and Tom Randall asked 37.
The number is also lower than other Nottinghamshire MPs, with Mansfield’s Steve Yemm having asked 34 questions since being elected. Yet Mr Payne says asking questions in the House of Commons is only a small element of the job of being an MP.
Mr Payne said: “This latest Conservative Party attack is both misleading and hypocritical. While the local Conservatives nitpick at how many questions I have asked in the Commons, they conveniently ignore a far more telling fact.
“I have one of the strongest voting attendance records of any MP in Nottinghamshire — turning up and voting in 85% of voting divisions in Parliament since the 2024 general election. Let’s compare that to the Conservative Party’s own record.
“Robert Jenrick, MP for Newark and former Conservative minister, has bothered to vote in just 49.5% of Commons votes — less than half. If anyone’s gone missing in action in Westminster, it’s them.
“I am showing up and doing what’s necessary to stand up for Gedling — not just when the cameras are rolling, but where it counts: in the voting lobbies, in committees, and in securing real results for residents. This is a desperate distraction from the fact that Conservative MPs spent 14 years in government running public services into the ground, leaving communities like Gedling to pay the price.”
Chairman of the Gedling Conservative Association, Councillor Darren Maltby, said: “I’m shocked at these numbers. Standing up in the House of Commons to champion your local area is a key part of the job for any constituency MP.
“In Gedling, we’ve been well served by hard-working constituency MPs from both main parties – Andrew Mitchell, Vernon Coaker and Tom Randall – who have spoken up for Gedling and raised constituents’ matters with ministers. On these figures, Michael Payne is trailing behind all three of them by a long, long way.
“He’s also trailing behind every other backbench Labour MP in Nottinghamshire. He needs to buck up his ideas.”
Leader of the Conservative group at Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Mike Adams, added: “We need a local MP who will stand up for local businesses, local charities and the concerns of Gedling residents. I’m worried that Gedling is losing its voice in Parliament.”
Yet Mr Payne says his work in Gedling has included helping to secure the biggest ever government funding package for Nottinghamshire’s roads and securing money for three free breakfast clubs at Gedling primary schools. The MP also highlighted a £20 million investment for Carlton, the launch of a small business awards, securing 375 nominations for Gedling businesses and clawing back tens of thousands of pounds for his constituents from utility companies and government departments.
Mr Payne added: “In the last year I have helped over 7,500 constituents with issues, casework and enquiries and held regular advice surgeries in every corner of Gedling. I’m getting on with the job of helping the people I serve whilst the Gedling Conservatives issue petty, pathetic press releases.
“Gedling Conservatives are obsessed with scoring political points. I am focused on delivering for my constituents. That’s the difference.”
Broxtowe’s Labour MP Juliet Campbell was criticised by former Labour councillors in the borough earlier this year for speaking just three times in the House of Commons. The MP denied being “missing in action” and said the criticism amounted to “personal attacks”.
