LabourREPORT
Melanie Ward

Melanie Ward

Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy

Won with 45.7% · Majority: 7,248

93%
Party loyalty
2
Rebellions
30/36
Key votes
£196k
Expenses

The Verdict

You'd struggle to find a vote where this MP put their constituents ahead of the party line. The voting record speaks for itself.

Subject Grades

How Melanie scored on each issue. Tap any subject for the individual votes.

Education

1 kept · 0 broke

A

Won with 45.7% of the vote, majority of 7,248

View all education votes →

Follow the Money

What Melanie claims, earns, and receives — compared to how they vote on the issues affecting their constituents.

Total2024-25
£198k
Expenses
£196k
Gifts
£2k

Expense Breakdown

£133k
Staffing
£25k
Office costs
£14k
Accommodation
£23k
Travel

Registered Interests

4. Visits outside the UK(4 entries)£12k
🇶🇦

Qatar

Paid by: Doha Forum

£6k

Name of donor: Doha Forum Address of donor: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Almirqab Tower, West Bay, Doha, Qatar Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights (£5,555), accommodation and meals (£402), value £5,957 Destination of visit: Qatar Dates of visit: 5 December 2025 to 8 December 2025 Purpose of visit: To participate in the Doha Forum 2025 on diplomacy, dialogue and diversity, including meetings with fellow cross-party parliamentarians, political representations of other countries and Qatari ministers to discuss Qatar’s role in seeking to resolve current regional conflicts. (Registered 19 December 2025)

🇺🇸

United States (New York)

Paid by: Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz gGmbH

£3k

Name of donor: Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz gGmbH Address of donor: Karolinenplatz 3, 80333 Munich, Germany Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights (£1807.22), accommodation (£1141.58), meals (£233.28), additional meals and transport (estimated value £300), value £3,482.08 Destination of visit: United States (New York) Dates of visit: 17 September 2025 to 21 September 2025 Purpose of visit: Participation in Annual Meeting of Women Parliamentarians Programme run by the Munich Security Conference Foundation. (Registered 13 October 2025)

🇸🇦

Saudi Arabia (AlUla)

Paid by: Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz gGmbH

£2k

Name of donor: Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz gGmbH Address of donor: Karolinenplatz 3, 80333 Munich, Germany Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Flights (£1148.85), accommodation (£697.17), meals and transport (estimated value £400), value £2,246.02 Destination of visit: Saudi Arabia (AlUla) Dates of visit: 30 September 2025 to 3 October 2025 Purpose of visit: Participation in Munich Leaders Meeting on the Middle East, run by the Munich Security Conference Foundation. (Registered 23 October 2025)

🇩🇪

Germany (Munich)

Paid by: Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz gGmbH

£681

Name of donor: Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz gGmbH Address of donor: Karolinenplatz 3, 80333 Munich, Germany Estimate of the probable value (or amount of any donation): Conference attendance, accommodation and some meals, value £681 Destination of visit: Germany (Munich) Dates of visit: 13 February 2025 to 16 February 2025 Purpose of visit: Attendance at the Munich Security Conference as part of the Women Parliamentarians Programme. (Registered 6 March 2025)

3. Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources(2 entries)£2k

Great Britain China Centre

£1k

Name of donor: Great Britain China Centre Address of donor: Kings Buildings, Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HQ Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Costs of a residential course attended by a member of my staff (Great Britain China Centre is a non-departmental body of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), value £1,350 Date received: 22 July 2025 to 25 July 2025 Date accepted: 22 July 2025 Donor status: company, registration 01196043 (Registered 21 August 2025)

Great Britain China Centre

£1k

Name of donor: Great Britain China Centre Address of donor: Kings Buildings, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HQ Amount of donation or nature and value if donation in kind: Cost of a two-day non-residential course in London attended by a member of staff (Great Britain China Centre is a non-departmental body of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), value £1,100 Date received: 6 November 2025 to 7 November 2025 Date accepted: 6 November 2025 Donor status: company, registration 01196043 (Registered 24 November 2025)

Sources: IPSA 2024-25, Register of Members' Financial Interests (Parliament API)

Every Penny: Melanie's Expenses

178 individual claims totalling £228,031.66 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
£6
2 claims
Newspapers, journals, magazines: £5.60
Family & Dependant Travel
£5k
3 claims
Air travel: £4,541.15
Rail: £397.50
Hotel Stays
£2k
1 claim
Hotel - London: £2,496.00
Flights
£18k
4 claims
Air travel: £11,784.77
Air travel: £4,541.15
Air travel: £1,567.46
Staffing
8 claims
£146k
Office Costs
135 claims
£42k
Accommodation
23 claims
£17k
MP Travel
4 claims
£14k
Staff Travel
5 claims
£5k
Dependant Travel
3 claims
£5k
Staffing(8 claims)£146,466.73
Payroll(1)£123,316.73
31 Mar 2025Total Staffing budget payroll costs for the 2024-25 year
£123,316.73
Bought-in services(7)£23,150.00
19 Dec 2024Policy and Office set up consultant
£10,000.00
25 Apr 2025research and writing of local industrial strategy [200011797-171]
£5,867.65
16 Jul 2025Communications Support
£4,000.00
2 Jun 2025Drawings required for listed building consent for office painting and security install [200012603-3]
£2,150.00
25 Apr 2025research and writing of local industrial strategy [200011798-544]
£1,132.35
1 Aug 2025Repaying 60299573:1 - 24/25 costs
£0.00
1 Aug 2025Repaying 60299573:1 - 25/26 costs
£0.00
Office Costs(135 claims)£41,618.98
Stationery & printing(46)£7,582.34
30 Jul 2025HTTPS://WWW.GMPPRINT.C
£2,807.00
6 Oct 2025XMA October 2025
£334.97
6 Oct 2025XMA October 2025
£334.97
22 Sep 2025PANDA PRINT
£284.00
6 Oct 2025XMA October 2025
£205.78
6 Oct 2025XMA October 2025
£205.78
6 Oct 2025XMA October 2025
£205.78
6 Oct 2025XMA October 2025
£205.78
6 Oct 2025XMA October 2025
£205.78
6 Oct 2025XMA October 2025
£205.78
10 Jan 2025XMA February 2025
£205.09
10 Jan 2025XMA February 2025
£205.09
10 Jan 2025XMA February 2025
£205.09
10 Jan 2025XMA February 2025
£205.09
10 Jan 2025XMA February 2025
£205.09
10 Jan 2025XMA February 2025
£205.09
20 Mar 2025Banner March 2025
£202.56
10 Jan 2025XMA February 2025
£166.94
10 Jan 2025XMA February 2025
£166.94
4 Sep 2025THE COLOR COMPANY TM
£126.00
4 Dec 2024THE COLOR COMPANY TM
£100.00
21 Jul 2025THE SIGN CO
£78.00
16 Jan 2025Banner February 2025
£75.95
20 Mar 2025Banner March 2025
£75.95
7 Nov 2024Card, Labels and Paper trimmer
£65.97
21 Nov 2024Portcullis House Office stationery purchased from Ryman Waterloo (4 Lower Marsh, SE1 7AJ)
£42.31
26 Feb 2025AGA PRINT LTD
£35.99
16 Jan 2025Banner February 2025
£33.78
13 Dec 2024Printing labels and envelopes for parliamentary office purchased from Ryman (4 Lower Marsh Street, SE1 7RJ)
£32.98
16 Jan 2025Banner February 2025
£28.80
20 Mar 2025Banner March 2025
£24.58
20 Mar 2025Banner March 2025
£16.85
20 Mar 2025Banner March 2025
£16.85
7 Oct 2024Office Keys Cut
£15.00
7 Oct 2024Office Keys Cut
£15.00
20 Sep 2024Paper
£11.99
20 Mar 2025Banner March 2025
£6.84
16 Jan 2025Banner February 2025
£6.50
20 Mar 2025Banner March 2025
£2.86
16 Jan 2025Banner February 2025
£2.68
16 Jan 2025Banner February 2025
£2.17
20 Mar 2025Banner March 2025
£1.30
20 Mar 2025Banner March 2025
£0.66
20 Mar 2025Banner March 2025
£0.48
16 Jan 2025Banner February 2025
£0.25
21 May 2025[***] [***] [***] line 60257461-3 is a duplicate of 60257451-1.
£0.00
Rent(10)£7,161.92
4 Mar 2025No description
£840.00
6 Jan 2025No description
£840.00
9 Oct 2024[***]FASTER PAYMENT RENT £840 to Supplier [***]
£840.00
3 Oct 2024No description
£840.00
5 Nov 2024No description
£840.00
4 Feb 2025No description
£840.00
10 Dec 2024No description
£840.00
5 Sep 2024[***] - First month´s rent -
£840.00
26 Mar 2025[***]
£441.92
28 Mar 2025Repayment of rent PSP 90044456:1
£0.00
Equipment - purchase(9)£5,598.63
20 Mar 2025IKEA LTD SHOP ONLINE [200011725-7420]
£4,691.00
26 Mar 2025CURRYS ONLINE [200011725-7961]
£314.98
31 Mar 2025Vacuum and Microwave [200011798-542]
£177.00
26 Mar 2025CURRYS ONLINE [200011725-7962]
£164.00
24 Jun 2025Banner July 2025
£57.92
18 Jun 2025AMAZON [***]
£55.25
5 Apr 2025B & Q 1377
£51.98
28 Mar 2025DUNELM F0860 [200011725-9884]
£46.50
28 Mar 2025B&M 284 - KIRKCALDY [200011725-9883]
£40.00
Advertising and contact cards(9)£4,940.21
21 Jul 2025ROYAL MAIL DOOR TO DOO
£3,653.99
20 May 2025NATIONAL WORLD PUBLISH
£642.00
23 Sep 2025Pitch side board for local small football pitch. Approved by IPSA last year, this is a renewal
£150.00
25 Sep 2025THE COLOR COMPANY TM
£108.00
8 Nov 2024SUMUP KIRKCALDY YM
£100.00
8 Nov 2024SUMUP KIRKCALDY YM
£100.00
7 Oct 2024surgery sign
£81.16
1 Oct 2024THE SIGN CO
£72.00
7 Oct 2024surgery roller banner
£33.06
Moving Fees(1)£4,130.00
11 Mar 2025Solicitor fees
£4,130.00
Software & applications(12)£3,788.56
15 Jul 2025elected technologies
£1,476.00
21 Aug 2024ELECTED TECHNOLOGIES [200011799-242]
£954.74
21 Aug 2024ELECTED TECHNOLOGIES
£600.00
21 Aug 2024ELECTED TECHNOLOGIES [200011800-62]
£485.26
5 Nov 2024DESCRIPT [200011800-63]
£137.24
5 Nov 2024DESCRIPT [200011799-243]
£92.12
10 Nov 2024TIMETASTIC
£7.20
10 Mar 2025TIMETASTIC [200011725-5598]
£7.20
10 Oct 2024TIMETASTIC
£7.20
10 Feb 2025TIMETASTIC
£7.20
10 Dec 2024TIMETASTIC
£7.20
10 Jan 2025TIMETASTIC
£7.20
Maintenance, Redecorations & Repairs(7)£3,375.25
14 Apr 2025Painting of new office [200011798-541]
£1,350.00
14 Mar 2025STOCKS DISCOUNT CARPET [200011725-5713]
£838.25
14 Apr 2025Fitting of carpet to new office [200011798-540]
£475.00
9 Sep 2025Painting of the front of the MPs office
£350.00
20 Oct 2025deposit for office sign
£165.00
2 May 2025HOMEASSURED LOCKSMITH
£140.00
26 Mar 2025TIMPSON LIMITED [200011725-7960]
£57.00
Utilities(12)£1,587.11
20 May 2025E.ON NEXT
£304.23
23 Apr 2025CASTLE WATER
£220.73
2 Jul 2025TVLICENSING.CO.UK
£174.50
23 May 2025EDF UK CARD PAYMENTS
£126.20
9 Jun 2025EDF UK CARD PAYMENTS
£124.33
12 Aug 2025EDF UK CARD PAYMENTS
£119.77
7 Jul 2025EDF UK CARD PAYMENTS
£118.22
18 Sep 2025EDF UK CARD PAYMENTS
£114.37
18 Jun 2025CASTLE WATER
£72.36
22 Jul 2025CASTLE WATER
£72.36
23 May 2025CASTLE WATER
£70.02
19 Aug 2025CASTLE WATER
£70.02
Bought-in services(2)£1,442.64
14 Apr 2025survey for office lease [200011798-543]
£1,442.64
5 Sep 2025HoC partially repaying 60305356:1
£0.00
Venue hire, meetings & surgeries(12)£666.75
17 Dec 2024No description
£360.00
12 Sep 2024No description
£80.00
3 Dec 2024No description
£60.00
5 Dec 2024No description
£32.00
12 Sep 2024No description
£28.00
26 Nov 2024No description
£24.00
20 Feb 2025[200011725-131]
£20.25
6 Jan 2025No description
£20.00
11 Dec 2024No description
£15.00
6 Feb 2025No description
£15.00
13 Mar 2025[200011725-3621]
£7.50
3 Dec 2024No description
£5.00
Cleaning services(7)£655.00
30 Sep 2025Cleaning of office for September
£120.00
8 Jul 2025June Cleaning of Office
£100.00
8 Jul 2025July Cleaning of Office
£100.00
19 Apr 2025Initial Clean after moving in
£100.00
2 Jun 2025Office weekly clean
£80.00
17 Jul 2025Cleaning of office
£80.00
26 Apr 2025April Cleaning
£75.00
Business rates(2)£258.32
9 Jun 2025FIFE COUNCIL
£170.38
16 Sep 2025FIFE COUNCIL
£87.94
Waste disposal, confidential waste & rubbish collection(2)£203.19
12 Aug 2025FIFE COUNCIL
£104.00
29 Apr 2025FIFE COUNCIL
£99.19
Insurance - contents(1)£127.45
28 Apr 2025HOWDEN UK BROKERS LIMI
£127.45
Landline phone & internet - rental & usage(1)£96.01
16 Sep 2025VIRGIN MEDIS PYMTS
£96.01
Newspapers, journals, magazines(2)£5.60
7 Nov 2024A copy of the Fife Free Press and the Courier (Fife Edition)
£3.80
14 Nov 2024Fife Free Press, weekly local newspaper
£1.80
Accommodation(23 claims)£16,557.06
Rent(10)£11,050.40
5 Oct 2024Rent October 2024
£1,595.00
11 Dec 2024No description
£1,595.00
5 Nov 2024Rent payment November 2024
£1,595.00
11 Feb 2025No description
£1,595.00
14 Jan 2025No description
£1,595.00
11 Mar 2025No description
£1,595.00
1 Aug 2024Rental accomodation for August 2024
£680.00
1 Sep 2024Rental accomodation for September 2024
£680.00
1 Oct 2024Rental accommodation
£614.19
31 Mar 20252024-25 [***] rent pro-rata
£-493.79
Council tax(5)£5,036.37
20 Apr 2025FIFE COUNCIL
£3,302.72
10 Dec 2024FIFE COUNCIL
£1,421.65
2 Sep 2024Council tax on IPSA approved rental accommodation for September 2024
£104.00
1 Aug 2024Council tax on IPSA approved rental accommodation for August
£104.00
1 Oct 2024Council tax payment
£104.00
Utilities(4)£300.34
13 Aug 2025OCTOPUS ENERGY LTD
£106.64
11 Sep 2025OCTOPUS ENERGY LTD
£94.63
10 Jul 2025OCTOPUS ENERGY LTD
£65.08
26 Dec 2024VIRGIN MEDIA
£33.99
Landline phone & internet - rental & usage(4)£169.95
27 Nov 2024VIRGIN MEDIA
£67.98
26 Feb 2025VIRGIN MEDIA
£33.99
27 Jan 2025VIRGIN MEDIA
£33.99
26 Mar 2025VIRGIN MEDIA [200011725-7963]
£33.99
MP Travel(4 claims)£13,502.24
Air travel(1)£11,784.77
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£11,784.77
Parking(1)£714.89
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£714.89
Rail(1)£634.47
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£634.47
Vehicle hire cost(1)£368.11
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£368.11
Staff Travel(5 claims)£4,948.00
Hotel - London(1)£2,496.00
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
15 nights
£2,496.00
Air travel(1)£1,567.46
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£1,567.46
Rail(1)£814.00
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£814.00
Parking(1)£39.99
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£39.99
Subsistence(1)£30.55
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£30.55
Dependant Travel(3 claims)£4,938.65
Air travel(2)£4,541.15
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£4,289.74
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£251.41
Rail(1)£397.50
31 Mar 2025Aggregated figure for travel during 2024-25LUMP SUM
£397.50

Source: IPSA Individual Business Costs 2024-25 — every claim published under the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009

Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy: The Real Impact

The people Melanie was elected to represent — and how they voted on the issues that affect them most.

Sources: DWP FYE 2024, DESNZ 2023, Census 2021, Election 2024