Photo of Melanie Ward

Melanie Ward

Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy

Elected 2024-07-04

Constituency outline of Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy with neighbours greyed
Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy
£195.6K Expenses claimed · rank #527 of 650
£0 Donations received
6 Declared interests
0 Red flags

How They Voted

VOTED FOR Employer National Insurance Increase
VOTED AGAINST VAT on Private Schools
VOTED FOR Illegal Migration Act Repeal
VOTED AGAINST Assisted Dying Bill
VOTED FOR Water Company Regulation
VOTED FOR House of Lords Hereditary Peers
VOTED AGAINST Defence Spending 2.5% GDP

Recent Public Statements

Latest verbatim posts and speeches from Melanie Ward on Bluesky and gov.uk. Sourced directly from public APIs. No paraphrase, no editorialising.

Bluesky
Rupert Lowe is no supporter of women. His track record speaks for itself. Only Labour will tackle violence against women and girls.
View post ↗
Bluesky
One detail I hadn't realised about parliament finishing today - today is the last day a hereditary peer will ever sit in the House of Lords.
View post ↗
Bluesky
Great to be out on the doors in Kirkcaldy this morning. Only @scottishlabour.bsky.social can beat the SNP here on 7 May.
View post ↗
Bluesky
This is £9 million of hugely important investment from our Labour government to support my constituents. I’m so pleased to have secured it and know it will make a real difference. news.stv.tv/scotland/uk-...
View post ↗
Bluesky
I feel sick watching the debate on the Assisted Dying Bill in the Scottish Parliament. My brother has complex disabilities. As so many disabled people and disability organisations have said, this bill would put him and them at risk. I hope so deeply that MSPs reject it.
View post ↗
Bluesky
It is not possible to give the choice that a small number seek about the end of their life without putting a much larger vulnerable group in harm’s way. The Royal College of Psychiatrists & many others agree. That’s why I hope MSP colleagues will reject the dangerous assisted dying bill tomorrow
View post ↗
Bluesky
New polling from Not Dead Yet UK shows nearly 7 in 10 Scots believe the Scottish Parliament should prioritise improving access to care for disabled people before considering whether to introduce assisted suicide. I hope Holyrood rejects the bill on Tuesday. www.notdeadyetuk.org/post/new-pol...
View post ↗
Bluesky
This International Women’s Day @laurakyrkesmith.bsky.social and I have written for @politicshome.bsky.social on how women’s bodies are a front in the fight for the future. We must give voice to what is taking place. We must take it on. And we must win. #IWD www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...
View post ↗

22 more recent statements available.

Said One Thing, Voted Another?

Verbatim Hansard contributions placed beside how this MP actually voted. See the full Lie Detector for methodology.

Assisted Dying Bill Voted AGAINST
I feel sick watching the debate on the Assisted Dying Bill in the Scottish Parliament. My brother has complex disabilities. As so many disabled people and disability organisations have said, this bill would put him and them at risk. I hope so deeply that MSPs reject it.
Bluesky post · 2026-03-17
Defence Spending 2.5% GDP Voted AGAINST
As we mark the centenary of Kirkcaldy War Memorial, today I had the solemn honour of leading the reading aloud of names of the 1500 members of our Armed Forces who gave their lives and are remembered on it. This collective act reinforced the scale of loss. We will remember them
Bluesky post · 2025-06-27
Two-Child Benefit Cap Absent / no vote
It was great to chat to @melanieward.bsky.social at our drop in session for MPs at the UK Parliament yesterday and highlight the impact of public debt on low income families, and why we need action on tackling the public debt crisis to reduce child poverty.
Bluesky post · 2025-01-15

Expenses Breakdown

Total: £195,558. Rank: #527 of 650 MPs. Source: IPSA.

Staffing
£133,317
Office
£25,165
Accommodation
£13,684
Travel
£23,392

What They Actually Claimed For

Itemised IPSA claims for the 211 expense lines this MP submitted. Total paid: £231,696. Source: IPSA individualBusinessCosts.

38 items for review
  • £1,422 Single claim of £1,421.65 for Council tax (Accommodation) on 10/12/2024.
  • £1,595 Single claim of £1,595.00 for Rent (Accommodation) on 05/11/2024.
  • £1,595 Single claim of £1,595.00 for Rent (Accommodation) on 05/10/2024.
  • £604 Single claim of £603.72 for Rent (Accommodation) on 05/07/2024.
  • £614 Single claim of £614.19 for Rent (Accommodation) on 01/10/2024.
  • £1,595 Single claim of £1,595.00 for Rent (Accommodation) on 11/12/2024.
  • £680 Single claim of £680.00 for Rent (Accommodation) on 01/09/2024.
  • £1,595 Single claim of £1,595.00 for Rent (Accommodation) on 14/01/2025.
  • £1,595 Single claim of £1,595.00 for Rent (Accommodation) on 11/03/2025.
  • £680 Single claim of £680.00 for Rent (Accommodation) on 01/08/2024.
  • £1,595 Single claim of £1,595.00 for Rent (Accommodation) on 11/02/2025.
  • £4,290 Single claim of £4,289.74 for Air travel (Dependant Travel) on 31/03/2025.
  • £11,785 Single claim of £11,784.77 for Air travel (MP Travel) on 31/03/2025.
  • £715 Single claim of £714.89 for Parking (MP Travel) on 31/03/2025.
  • £634 Single claim of £634.47 for Rail (MP Travel) on 31/03/2025.
  • £1,443 Single claim of £1,442.64 for Bought-in services (Professional & consultancy) on 14/04/2025.
  • £4,691 Single claim of £4,691.00 for Equipment - purchase (Office furniture) on 20/03/2025.
  • £838 Single claim of £838.25 for Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs (Office Costs) on 14/03/2025.
  • £1,350 Single claim of £1,350.00 for Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs (Office Costs) on 14/04/2025.
  • £4,130 Single claim of £4,130.00 for Moving Fees (Legal costs) on 11/03/2025.
  • £840 Single claim of £840.00 for Rent (Office Costs) on 03/10/2024.
  • £840 Single claim of £840.00 for Rent (Office Costs) on 10/12/2024.
  • £840 Single claim of £840.00 for Rent (Office Costs) on 05/11/2024.
  • £840 Single claim of £840.00 for Rent (Office Costs) on 09/10/2024.
  • £840 Single claim of £840.00 for Rent (Office Costs) on 05/09/2024.

Search the top 30 claims paid

Showing 20 of 30 claims. Total paid £204,764

31/03/2025StaffingPayrollFY 24-25
Total Staffing budget payroll costs for the 2024-25 year0
£123,317
31/03/2025MP TravelAir travelFY 24-25
Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-250
£11,785
19/12/2024StaffingBought-in servicesFY 24-25
Professional & consultancy0
£10,000
25/04/2025StaffingBought-in servicesFY 24-25
Professional & consultancy0
£5,868
20/03/2025Office CostsEquipment - purchaseFY 24-25
Office furniture0
£4,691
31/03/2025Dependant TravelAir travelFY 24-25
Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-250
£4,290
11/03/2025Office CostsMoving FeesFY 24-25
Legal costs0
£4,130
16/07/2025StaffingBought-in servicesFY 25-26
Comms & Media0
£4,000
21/07/2025Office CostsAdvertising and contact cardsFY 25-26
ROYAL MAIL DOOR TO DOO0
£3,654
20/04/2025AccommodationCouncil taxFY 25-26
FIFE COUNCIL0
£3,303
30/07/2025Office CostsStationery & printingFY 25-26
HTTPS://WWW.GMPPRINT.C0
£2,807
31/03/2025Staff TravelHotel - LondonFY 24-25
Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-2515 nights
£2,496
02/06/2025StaffingBought-in servicesFY 25-26
Professional & consultancy0
£2,150
05/11/2024AccommodationRentFY 24-25
Rent payment November 20240
£1,595
05/10/2024AccommodationRentFY 24-25
Rent October 20240
£1,595
11/12/2024AccommodationRentFY 24-25
0
£1,595
14/01/2025AccommodationRentFY 24-25
0
£1,595
11/03/2025AccommodationRentFY 24-25
0
£1,595
11/02/2025AccommodationRentFY 24-25
0
£1,595
31/03/2025Staff TravelAir travelFY 24-25
Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-250
£1,567

Year on year

FY 24-25 121 claims £202,277
FY 25-26 90 claims £29,419

Travel

£23,389 paid across 0 trips.

Accommodation

£17,535 paid across 0 nights.

Write to Melanie Ward

Generate a letter that cites this MP's recorded vote on a chosen topic. The letter pulls from Hansard so the question is on the record.

Write a Letter