Michael Shanks
Labour MP for Rutherglen
Won with 50.5% · Majority: 8,767
90%
Party loyalty
2
Rebellions
20/36
Key votes
£273k
Expenses
The Verdict
Followed the party whip vote after vote, breaking the promises Labour made to voters. The campaign leaflets are collecting dust — the voting record tells a very different story.
Subject Grades
How Michael scored on each issue. Tap any subject for the individual votes.
Civil Liberties
0 kept · 2 broke
Won with 50.5% of the vote, majority of 8,767
Courts and Tribunals Bill: Scrapping Jury TrialsBroke
Jury Trials: Voted Down Opposition ScrutinyBroke
Cost of Living
0 kept · 3 broke · 4 missed
Winter Fuel Payment CutsBroke
Winter Fuel Payment: Voted to Enforce the CutBroke
Winter Fuel Payment: Voted Against It AgainMissed
Energy Costs: Blocked Opposition MotionBroke
Inheritance Tax on Family FarmsMissed
Employer National Insurance HikeMissed
Council Tax Rises: Approved Without ReferendumMissed
Housing
0 kept · 3 broke
Renters' Rights: Stripped Lords ProtectionsBroke
Renters' Rights: Rejected Affordability ProtectionsBroke
Renters' Rights: Rejected Tenancy StandardsBroke
Environment
0 kept · 3 broke · 1 missed
Water Companies: Blocked Stronger Sewage RulesBroke
Water Companies: Rejected Tougher PenaltiesBroke
Sewage: Voted Down Cross-Party MotionMissed
Great British Energy: Rejected Lords ImprovementsBroke
Workers' Rights
0 kept · 2 broke · 1 missed
Won with 50.5% of the vote, majority of 8,767
Rail Nationalisation: Rejected Lords ProtectionsBroke
Railways Bill: Blocked Opposition ImprovementsBroke
Youth Unemployment: Blocked DebateMissed
Welfare & Benefits
1 kept · 5 broke · 3 missed
2,338 children in poverty in this constituency (14.9%)
Two-Child Benefit Cap (King's Speech)Broke
Two-Child Limit Removal Bill: Second ReadingKept
Two-Child Limit: Blocked Their Own Bill's StrengtheningBroke
Child Poverty Strategy: Only 7 Labour MPs Showed UpMissed
Carer's Allowance Reform BlockedMissed
Welfare Spending: Voted Down ScrutinyBroke
Welfare Cuts: Blocked Debate AgainMissed
UC & PIP Bill: Blocked Protections for DisabledBroke
UC & PIP Bill: Rejected SafeguardsBroke
Follow the Money
What Michael claims, earns, and receives — compared to how they vote on the issues affecting their constituents.
Total2024-25
£273k
Expenses
£273k
Expense Breakdown
£211k
Staffing
£26k
Office costs
£22k
Accommodation
£14k
Travel
The Broken Promise
£273kClaimed in parliamentary expenses
Voted to strip £300/year heating help from 10 million pensioners
£22kClaimed on accommodation
Voted to keep the two-child benefit cap — 2,338 children live in poverty in their constituency
£273kPaid from the public purse
Voted to scrap jury trials — removing an 800-year-old right that protects ordinary citizens
Registered Interests
8. Miscellaneous(4 entries)
Undisclosed
A trustee of Epilepsy Scotland. This is an unpaid role. (Registered 1 November 2023)
Undisclosed
A trustee of Glasgow Disabled Scouts. This is an unpaid role. (Registered 1 November 2023)
Undisclosed
A member of General Teaching Council for Scotland. This is an unpaid role. (Registered 1 November 2023)
Undisclosed
A trustee of Interfaith Glasgow. This is an unpaid role. (Registered 1 November 2023)
Sources: IPSA 2024-25, Register of Members' Financial Interests (Parliament API)
Every Penny: Michael's Expenses
132 individual claims totalling £272,998.47 since this parliament opened (July 2024). Click any category to see exactly where the money went, down to every receipt. Items marked “LUMP SUM” are bundled by IPSA (mainly travel) — they won't break these down further.
TV, Newspapers & Subscriptions
£175
1 claim
TV licence: £174.50
Hotel Stays
£4k
4 claims
Hotel - London: £1,914.00
Hotel - London: £1,870.00
Hotel - UK Not London: £183.60
Flights
£9k
3 claims
Air travel: £7,138.46
Air travel: £2,259.44
Staffing
2 claims
£211k
Office Costs
87 claims
£29k
Accommodation
26 claims
£18k
MP Travel
3 claims
£9k
Staff Travel
14 claims
£5k
Staffing(2 claims)£211,485.72
Payroll(1)£209,185.72
31 Mar 2025Total Staffing budget payroll costs for the 2024-25 year
£209,185.72
Pooled staffing services(1)£2,300.00
7 Feb 2025Parliamentary Research Services
£2,300.00
Office Costs(87 claims)£29,475.56
Service charge & ground Rent(4)£10,562.31
16 Jul 2025Constituency office service charge Q2
£3,073.28
17 Oct 2024Quarterly service charge for constituency office
£2,899.32
18 Mar 2025Q4 Constituency office service charge
£2,899.32
16 Jul 2025Constituency office service charge reconciliation for 2024/25
£1,690.39
Rent(1)£10,178.00
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for this business cost and budget category in 2024-25LUMP SUM
£10,178.00
Equipment - purchase(9)£2,585.63
3 Mar 2025OFFICE FURNITURE CENTR [200011725-1940]
£1,134.00
7 Feb 2025PAYPAL MAPSINTERNA
£592.00
3 Apr 2025EMG SCOTLAND LIMITED
£397.46
7 Oct 2024OFFICE FURNITURE CENTR
£183.60
7 Mar 2025BRAEHEAD [200011725-2734]
£125.00
11 Oct 2024GEAR4MUSIC LIMITED
£69.99
22 Aug 2025AGA PRINT LTD
£51.58
10 Mar 2025SHELTER TRADING LTD [200011725-3935]
£20.00
7 Mar 2025BRAEHEAD [200011725-2733]
£12.00
Stationery & printing(38)£2,056.37
13 Aug 2024Banner September 2024
£294.00
15 Aug 2024Banner September 2024
£273.12
15 Aug 2024Banner September 2024
£273.12
15 Aug 2024Banner September 2024
£273.12
30 Jul 2024CARTRIDGEPEOPLE.COM
£248.90
15 Aug 2024Banner September 2024
£222.29
13 Aug 2024Banner September 2024
£138.00
15 Aug 2024Banner September 2024
£59.56
15 Aug 2024Banner September 2024
£55.31
15 Aug 2024Banner September 2024
£45.50
19 Feb 2025Banner March 2025
£20.38
23 Oct 2024Banner November 2024
£18.66
15 Aug 2024Banner September 2024
£18.62
11 Oct 2024Banner November 2024
£18.16
28 Nov 2024Banner December 2024
£15.17
19 Feb 2025Banner March 2025
£13.15
19 Feb 2025Banner March 2025
£12.22
19 Feb 2025Banner March 2025
£8.93
11 Oct 2024Banner November 2024
£7.02
16 Dec 2024Plug extension lead
£6.48
19 Feb 2025Banner March 2025
£5.52
19 Feb 2025Banner March 2025
£4.32
28 Nov 2024Banner December 2024
£3.29
11 Oct 2024Banner November 2024
£3.22
17 Oct 2024Banner November 2024
£2.89
11 Oct 2024Banner November 2024
£2.57
28 Nov 2024Banner December 2024
£2.29
28 Nov 2024Banner December 2024
£2.18
28 Nov 2024Banner December 2024
£1.73
11 Oct 2024Banner November 2024
£1.50
11 Oct 2024Banner November 2024
£1.34
11 Oct 2024Banner November 2024
£1.34
11 Oct 2024Banner November 2024
£1.15
28 Nov 2024Banner December 2024
£0.43
28 Nov 2024Banner December 2024
£0.37
28 Nov 2024Banner December 2024
£0.23
28 Nov 2024Banner December 2024
£0.16
28 Nov 2024Banner December 2024
£0.13
Software & applications(5)£1,617.78
8 Oct 2024ELECTED TECHNOLOGIES
£720.00
5 Jul 2025Annual subscription to Mailerlite for constituency e-news distribution
£415.27
14 Mar 2025ADOBE PREMIERE PRO [200011725-6708]
£262.51
20 Nov 2024Annual subscription for Veed (video editing software)
£120.00
19 Oct 2024CANVA [***]
£100.00
Advertising and contact cards(9)£1,204.95
4 Sep 2025DLM DISTRIBUTION LTD
£618.00
10 Feb 2025TRINITY MIRROR PUBLISH
£367.20
5 Mar 2025Social media advert for constituency event on social care
£62.51
7 Oct 2024Surgery flyer
£46.79
4 Dec 2024Two Facebook adverts on MP Survey on stations
£43.02
2 Oct 2024Surgery flyer
£36.96
5 Nov 2024Non-political leaflet on MP survey on stations
£30.47
19 Oct 2024FACEBK [***]
£30.00
5 Aug 2025Allocate hotel refund 60274108:1 to original claim 60268121:1
£-30.00
Mobile telephone - equipment purchase(1)£569.96
5 Apr 2025MUSIC MAGPIE
£569.96
Landline phone & internet - rental & usage(8)£532.61
16 Sep 2025YOUR COOP
£85.24
14 Jul 2025YOUR COOP
£84.60
31 Jan 2025YOUR COOP [200011726-287]
£84.03
2 May 2025YOUR COOP
£83.76
26 Nov 2024YOUR COOP
£68.89
7 Aug 2024YOUR COOP
£49.36
18 Feb 2025YOUR COOP
£41.89
30 Sep 2024YOUR COOP
£34.84
Venue hire, meetings & surgeries(6)£429.24
15 Nov 2024No description
£203.44
3 Oct 2024No description
£153.10
14 Feb 2025No description
£24.00
24 Dec 2024No description
£18.70
7 Mar 2025No description
£15.00
7 Feb 2025No description
£15.00
TV licence(1)£174.50
14 Jul 2025TVLICENSING.CO.UK
£174.50
Website hosting and design(4)£86.22
29 Aug 2024DNH GODADDY.COM EUROPE
£189.12
30 Aug 2024DNH GODADDY [***]
£143.86
31 Mar 2025Partial repayment 60253853:1 - DNH GODADDY [***]
£-106.61
31 Mar 2025Partial repayment 60253853:2 - DNH GODADDY.COM EUROPE
£-140.15
Other(1)£-522.01
9 Oct 2024GE Repayment for Rent
£-522.01
Accommodation(26 claims)£18,394.63
Rent(8)£14,609.59
21 Jan 2025No description
£2,250.00
19 Nov 2024No description
£2,250.00
18 Mar 2025No description
£2,250.00
30 Oct 2024[***] - rent for 17/10/2024 - 16/11/2024
£2,250.00
17 Dec 2024No description
£2,250.00
18 Feb 2025No description
£2,250.00
3 Sep 2024Shanks/[***]
£2,250.00
31 Mar 20252024-25 [***] rent pro-rata
£-1,140.41
Hotel - London(2)£1,870.00
13 Sep 2024London hotel stay (see notes re. date)
5 nights
£975.00
20 Jul 2024AIRBNB [***]
5 nights
£895.00
Council tax(8)£1,180.43
1 Dec 2024Council Tax for London flat
£220.43
3 Mar 2025London flat council tax
£220.00
8 Feb 2025London flat council tax
£220.00
1 Aug 2025Council tax direct debit August 2025
£104.00
1 May 2025Council Tax direct debit
£104.00
1 Sep 2025Council tax direct debit September 2025
£104.00
1 Apr 2025Council Tax direct debit
£104.00
1 Jul 2025Council tax direct debit July 2025
£104.00
Utilities(6)£644.64
23 Apr 2025Gas bill for London flat
£185.31
23 Jan 2025London flat electricity and gas
£164.74
24 Jul 2025Gas/Electricity July 2025
£108.83
4 Jan 2025Gas bill covering three month period for London flat before switching provider
£101.20
4 Dec 2024Electricity bill for London flat
£58.65
2 Jan 2025Electricity and gas bill for London flat
£25.91
Landline phone & internet - rental & usage(2)£89.97
8 Nov 2024Broadband - set up costs and regular bill
£59.98
9 Dec 2024Broadband
£29.99
MP Travel(3 claims)£8,882.09
Air travel(1)£7,138.46
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£7,138.46
Rail(1)£1,038.86
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£1,038.86
Parking(1)£704.77
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£704.77
Staff Travel(14 claims)£4,760.47
Air travel(2)£2,259.44
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£2,156.46
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£102.98
Hotel - London(1)£1,914.00
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
14 nights
£1,914.00
Rail(4)£209.10
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£136.16
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£54.24
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£16.95
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£1.75
Hotel - UK Not London(1)£183.60
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
2 nights
£183.60
Mileage - car(3)£122.32
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£88.20
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£31.78
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£2.34
Subsistence(2)£62.01
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£43.61
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£18.40
Other public transport(1)£10.00
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£10.00
Source: IPSA Individual Business Costs 2024-25 — every claim published under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009
Rutherglen: The Real Impact
The people Michael was elected to represent — and how they voted on the issues that affect them most.
2,338
Children in poverty
14.9% of children locally
4
broke
1
kept
1
missed
Two-Child Benefit Cap (King's Speech)KEY
Broke promiseTwo-Child Limit Removal Bill: Second ReadingKEY
Kept promiseTwo-Child Limit: Blocked Their Own Bill's Strengthening
Broke promiseChild Poverty Strategy: Only 7 Labour MPs Showed Up
Didn't show upUC & PIP Bill: Rejected Safeguards
Broke promiseUC & PIP Bill: Blocked Protections for Disabled
Broke promiseSources: DWP FYE 2024, DESNZ 2023, Census 2021, Election 2024