Member of Parliament
James Cartlidge
Conservative MP for South Suffolk
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
At a glanceJames Cartlidge is a Conservative MP for South Suffolk, and has represented the seat for 11 years, 2 months. They currently serve as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence. They have cast 421 votes in Commons divisions (73% attendance), tabled 3,870 written questions and registered 3 financial interests.
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 575 Commons divisions since the 2024 election; James Cartlidge did not vote in 154. A rebellion is a vote against the way most of their own party voted; free votes, where no party line applies, are left out.
Party-loyalty figures are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.
Biography
He currently undertakes the role of Shadow Secretary of State for Defence.
Current roles
- Shadow Secretary of State for Defence Opposition post · Ministry of Defence since 8 Jul 2024
- South Suffolk Representation · Elected 1 time since 4 Jul 2024
- Conservative Party since 7 May 2015
Voting record
Voting alignment
Votes most like
-
Mr Peter Bedford
Conservative
100.0% · 367 of 367 shared votes
-
Sir Ashley Fox
Conservative
100.0% · 357 of 357 shared votes
-
Mark Garnier
Conservative
100.0% · 356 of 356 shared votes
-
Sir Oliver Dowden
Conservative
100.0% · 348 of 348 shared votes
-
James Wild
Conservative
100.0% · 347 of 347 shared votes
Votes least like
-
Ms Julie Minns
Labour
0.3% · 1 of 373 shared votes
-
Valerie Vaz
Labour
0.6% · 2 of 311 shared votes
-
Yasmin Qureshi
Labour
0.7% · 2 of 269 shared votes
-
Carolyn Harris
Labour
0.9% · 3 of 350 shared votes
-
Afzal Khan
Labour
0.9% · 3 of 347 shared votes
Alignment figures are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.
Register of financial interests
From the official Register; shown as registered.
Donations and other support (including loans) for activities as an MP3
- Dr Sarah Ingham - £10,000.00 (registered 6 May 2026)
- Dr Sarah Ingham - £2,005.90 (registered 15 Oct 2025)
- James Uffindell - £5,000.00 (registered 14 Oct 2025)
Written questions
Written question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's statement entitled Royal Navy Estate, published on 15 July 2026, what estimate he has made of the number of additional jobs that will be created at the Finnart Oil Terminal as a
Awaiting an answer from the Ministry of Defence.
Written question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's statement entitled Royal Navy Estate, published on 15 July 2026, what timetable has been set for the Finnart Oil Terminal to become fully operational.
Awaiting an answer from the Ministry of Defence.
Written question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's statement entitled Royal Navy Estate, published on 15 July 2026, what estimate he has made of the annual operating costs of the Finnart Oil Terminal.
Awaiting an answer from the Ministry of Defence.
Written question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's statement entitled Royal Navy Estate, published on 15 July 2026, what estimate he has made of the total cost of bringing the Finnart Oil Terminal into full operational use.
Awaiting an answer from the Ministry of Defence.
Written question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's statement entitled Naval Base Infrastructure, published on 14 July 2026, whether major contracts under Project Royal Oak will be subject to competitive tender.
Awaiting an answer from the Ministry of Defence.
Written question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's statement entitled Naval Base Infrastructure, published on 14 July 2026, what assessment he has made of the contribution of Project Royal Oak to meeting the recommendations of t
Awaiting an answer from the Ministry of Defence.
Written question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's statement entitled Naval Base Infrastructure, published on 14 July 2026, what proportion of contracts awarded under Project Royal Oak are expected to be placed with UK based sup
Awaiting an answer from the Ministry of Defence.
Written question
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's statement entitled Naval Base Infrastructure, published on 14 July 2026, how many apprentices and adult learners the proposed Skills Development Centre expects to support each y
Awaiting an answer from the Ministry of Defence.
Speeches in the chamber
6 Jul 2026 Topical Questions
On the day of its publication in June 2025, the headline promise of Labour’s strategic defence review was a commitment to buy “up to 12 attack submarines”. At the time, the Labour Government could not answer the question of exactly h…
6 Jul 2026 Russia: Level of Threat to UK
This is not good enough. The defence investment plan has completely unravelled because, despite it being many months late, the Government still have not worked out where they are going to get the money from. Either the Secretary of State k…
6 Jul 2026 Russia: Level of Threat to UK
May I echo your sentiments, Mr Speaker, about Sir George Howarth, and pass on the Opposition’s condolences to his family and friends? Also, for their first oral questions, I welcome the new Ministers to the Front-Bench team. Today’s rep…
30 Jun 2026 Defence Investment Plan
I thank the Secretary of State for advance sight of his statement. After months and months of delay, we finally have the defence investment plan, but it is quite simply a case of too little, too late. It is too little because there is v…
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Will the Minister give way?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Will the Minister give way?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Will the Minister give way?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Will the Minister give way?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Will the Minister give way?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Will the Minister give way?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Will the Minister give way?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Will the Minister give way?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Will he give way?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Will the Minister give way?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
The hon. Member talks about the Ukraine war. It has to be remembered that only one European country stood by Ukraine at the outset of that invasion. Our Secretary of State for Defence and the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson took the deci…
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
My hon. Friend is making a brilliant speech. For many people this would have been an obscure argument some years ago, but I genuinely think that how we procure drones is one of the most critical questions for the country. Does he agree tha…
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
The hon. Gentleman always speaks on defence matters. He has a unique passion for them, which I very much respect and admire, as a result of his upbringing near the Berlin wall. It has just been reported by the BBC that No. 10 has said that…
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
Ah! My right hon. Friend knew that, obviously.
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
The money is not free—where is the money going to come from?
23 Jun 2026 Defence Spending and Readiness
I am grateful that the hon. Member is entering into the semi-consensual spirit that we have seen from some. I recognised in my speech that spending had fallen under successive Governments. Further to the question asked by my hon. Friend th…
Source: contributions on parliament.uk.
Full parliamentary career
Government posts
- Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) · Ministry of Defence 21 Apr 2023 – 5 Jul 2024
- Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury) · HM Treasury 28 Oct 2022 – 21 Apr 2023
- Assistant Whip · Whips Office (Commons) 19 Sep 2021 – 7 Jul 2022
- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ministry of Justice) (and Assistant Government Whip) · Whips Office (Commons) 19 Sep 2021 – 7 Jul 2022
Committee memberships
- Public Accounts Committee 15 Nov 2022 – 6 Jun 2023
- Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill 12 Oct 2022 – 20 Oct 2022
- Judicial Review and Courts Bill 27 Oct 2021 – 23 Nov 2021
- Work and Pensions Committee 31 Oct 2016 – 3 May 2017
- Public Accounts Commission 4 Nov 2015 – 3 May 2017
Previous seats
- South Suffolk · Elected 3 times 7 May 2015 – 30 May 2024
Elections contested
- Lewisham, Deptford 5 May 2005
Expenses
Contact & offices
020 7219 4875
Parliamentary office
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about James Cartlidge, answered from official Parliament data.
Who is James Cartlidge?
James Cartlidge is a Member of Parliament representing South Suffolk in the House of Commons. See James Cartlidge's official Parliament profile.
Which party does James Cartlidge represent?
James Cartlidge sits as Conservative. See James Cartlidge's official Parliament profile.
Which constituency does James Cartlidge represent?
James Cartlidge is the Member of Parliament for South Suffolk. See James Cartlidge's official Parliament profile.
How long has James Cartlidge been an MP?
James Cartlidge has served in the House of Commons for 11 years, 2 months. See James Cartlidge's official Parliament profile.
What registered interests are listed for James Cartlidge?
James Cartlidge has 3 entries in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. See James Cartlidge's official Parliament profile.
Source: this MP's official Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.