Member of Parliament
Dr Ben Spencer
Conservative MP for Runnymede and Weybridge
Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
At a glanceDr Ben Spencer is a Conservative MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, and has represented the seat for 6 years, 7 months. They currently serve as Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology). They have cast 410 votes in Commons divisions (71% attendance), tabled 292 written questions and registered 5 financial interests.
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 575 Commons divisions since the 2024 election; Dr Ben Spencer did not vote in 165. 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 Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology).
Current roles
- Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill Committee since 21 Jan 2026
- Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology) Opposition post · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology since 6 Nov 2024
- Runnymede and Weybridge Representation · Elected 1 time since 4 Jul 2024
- Conservative Party since 12 Dec 2019
Voting record
Voting alignment
Votes most like
-
Alberto Costa
Conservative
100.0% · 333 of 333 shared votes
-
Sir Roger Gale
Conservative
100.0% · 298 of 298 shared votes
-
Helen Grant
Conservative
100.0% · 270 of 270 shared votes
-
Esther McVey
Conservative
100.0% · 225 of 225 shared votes
-
Jesse Norman
Conservative
99.7% · 321 of 322 shared votes
Votes least like
-
Lisa Nandy
Labour
0.8% · 1 of 121 shared votes
-
Steve Reed
Labour (Co-op)
1.1% · 2 of 175 shared votes
-
Mr Connor Rand
Labour
1.2% · 3 of 246 shared votes
-
Bambos Charalambous
Labour
1.3% · 4 of 309 shared votes
-
Carolyn Harris
Labour
1.5% · 5 of 333 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 MP2
- Bansols Beta Ltd - £10,000.00 (registered 26 Jan 2026)
- Carol and Clive Chase - £6,000.00 (registered 24 Nov 2025)
Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources2
- techUK - £450.00 (registered 7 Jul 2026)
- Informa Connect Holdings Ltd, - £4,999.00 (registered 30 Jun 2026)
Visits outside the UK1
- International visit to Japan between 08 October 2025 and 16 October 2025 (registered 12 Nov 2025)
Written questions
Park Homes: Discrimination
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support is available to park home residents who face discriminatory practices by park home site owners.
Answer · 9 Jul 2026
Where a park home resident believes they have experienced discrimination related to a protected characteristic, they can contact the Equality Advisory Support Service. I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 110492 on 11 February 2...
Artificial Intelligence: Health Services
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, when she will update the House on her plans to regulate LLMs/AI Chatbots providing therapeutic interventions.
Answer · 29 Jun 2026
As outlined in the government’s progress statement following the ‘Growing up in the online world’ consultation, we received responses which felt that chatbots could play a beneficial role in supporting children’s wellbeing. However, we also heard concerns...
River Thames: Flood Control
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it remains Government policy to support the delivery of the River Thames Scheme.
Answer · 18 Jun 2026
The Government is working with the Environment Agency (EA) on the proposal for the River Thames Scheme, with the EA leading the development in line with its National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy. The scheme’s main objective is to red...
River Thames: Flood Control
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of when River Thames Scheme main construction works will begin.
Answer · 25 Jun 2026
The Environment Agency is progressing the River Thames Scheme following the reset, with an updated Outline Business Case which will be submitted in summer 2026. The programme timeline for the Development Consent Order and Construction phases will be agree...
River Thames: Flood Control
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the planned timetable is for the submission of the Development Consent Order for the River Thames Scheme.
Answer · 25 Jun 2026
The Environment Agency is progressing the River Thames Scheme following the reset, with an updated Outline Business Case which will be submitted in summer 2026. The programme timeline for the Development Consent Order and Construction phases will be agree...
Special Educational Needs
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason she has not met with representatives from the National Association of Special Schools as part of her work to improve SEND.
Answer · 10 Jun 2026
Since July 2024, the department has engaged with thousands of children, young people, parents, families, professionals and local authorities. As part of the National Conversation held between December 2025 and January 2026, the department reached over 8,0...
South Western Railway: Standards
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what perfomance metrics will be considered as part of SWR's leadership performance review.
Answer · 15 Jun 2026
The Department holds South Western Railway (SWR) to account against a range of performance measures focused on the delivery of reliable, safe and high quality services for passengers. This includes monitoring punctuality and cancellations, safety and oper...
South West Main Line: Timetables
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the potential impact of changes on level crossing down times will be a factor in the upcoming SWR timetable review and consultation.
Answer · 12 Jun 2026
The potential impact of changes to level crossing down times will be a factor in the upcoming South Western Railway timetable review. This is an issue that is carefully considered as part of wider timetable development. The Department and the operator wel...
Speeches in the chamber
16 Jul 2026 Sir David Amess Summer Adjournment
I would like to raise a deeply troubling case that highlights serious concerns about the integrity of DNA testing within the Child Maintenance Service and questions surrounding the existing safeguards in place to protect families. I wan…
16 Jul 2026 Road Congestion
The A244 has always had too much traffic and too many heavy goods vehicles on it. It goes through Oxshott in my constituency, and following the roadworks on the M25 and A3, increasing numbers of cars and large vehicles are using it as a sh…
9 Jul 2026 Science, innovation and technology Committee
I start by thanking the Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee and its entire membership for the publication of a very interesting and timely report. Business, academia and the whole tech sector needs clarity, in some wa…
8 Jul 2026 Draft Trade (Mobile Roaming) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Jardine. I have three questions about this statutory instrument. The first is a request for clarity from the Minister, because I was a bit confused by some of his comments about the cap…
8 Jul 2026 Societal Impact of AI: Government Policy
I thank the hon. Member for his challenge regarding a future hypothetical that has yet to be realised. I think I will be able to address some of his points, but I think the premise he is setting is a bit beyond the scope of this discussion…
8 Jul 2026 Societal Impact of AI: Government Policy
It is a pleasure, as always, to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. I thank the hon. Member for Poole (Neil Duncan-Jordan) for bringing forward this interesting debate, and all the Members on both sides of the House who have taken par…
1 Jul 2026 Online Safety: Children
This might be the last time this Department for Science, Innovation and Technology ministerial team get the chance to face us at the Dispatch Box, so on behalf of our team I wish them well over the next few weeks as the Government go throu…
30 Jun 2026 Defence Investment Plan
I thank the right hon. Member for what he is doing in what I am sure is a challenging and uncertain time. With regard to meeting NATO spending commitments, he has referred to future spending reviews on many occasions. Is this defence inves…
30 Jun 2026 Draft Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (Directions to OFCOM) (Revocation) Order 2026
Will the Minister give way?
30 Jun 2026 Draft Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (Directions to OFCOM) (Revocation) Order 2026
The cancelled gigabit availability.
30 Jun 2026 Draft Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (Directions to OFCOM) (Revocation) Order 2026
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison. This statutory instrument revokes an obsolete SI, and we of course support clearing up and removing obsolete instruments. I wish the Government could do more of that in terms …
16 Jun 2026 Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill
I do not want any part of the UK to be subject to the awful AI Act that has been passed by the European Union. Northern Ireland, and particularly Belfast, is a technological powerhouse of which we should be very proud. We need to ensure th…
16 Jun 2026 Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill
I refer the hon. Member to her new clause 13, particularly subsection 3(c), which makes it very clear that companies would need to deviate from “foreign technologies”, which would be quite a burden. We need to back Britain in key sector…
16 Jun 2026 Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill
I thank the hon. Gentleman for the knowledge and experience he brings to the background of that particular case. I entirely agree that it is incumbent on all parties across the House to strengthen our national security and to be clear-eyed…
16 Jun 2026 Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill
Before I begin, I would also like to make some remarks in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the murder of Jo Cox. I never met Jo Cox. I never knew Jo Cox, and I am very sad that I did not, because having seen the impact she has had …
16 Jun 2026 Thames Water
Will the Secretary of State guarantee that no taxpayer money will be used to bail out Thames Water or its shareholders?
10 Jun 2026 Railways Bill
I hope we will hear from the Minister about why he may or may not accept the new clause—I hope he ends up doing so. Under the previous Government, the Weybridge lifts were notorious in the Department for Transport because of the problems w…
10 Jun 2026 Railways Bill
I rise to speak to new clauses 29 to 32 and amendments 65 to 67, tabled in my name. My mission is to keep Runnymede and Weybridge moving. Rail and transport are important to us: we are situated within the London commuter belt, one 10th …
3 Jun 2026 South East Water: Disruption of Supply
As the Minister is looking into the situation with South East Water, can I also feed back what happened last week, when parts of Weybridge had restrictions on water supply? Although we are supplied by Affinity Water, I think the problem is…
2 Jun 2026 Topical Questions
T2. Why does the Secretary of State think that Tony Blair is so critical of his policies?
Source: contributions on parliament.uk.
Full parliamentary career
Opposition posts
- Shadow Minister (Health and Social Care) · Department of Health and Social Care 19 Jul 2024 – 6 Nov 2024
Committee memberships
- Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL] 26 Feb 2025 – 11 Mar 2025
- Draft Mental Health Bill (Joint Committee) 11 Jul 2022 – 30 May 2024
- Work and Pensions Committee 2 Mar 2020 – 30 May 2024
- Finance (No.2) Bill 15 May 2024 – 21 May 2024
- Renters (Reform) Bill 8 Nov 2023 – 28 Nov 2023
- Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill 5 Jan 2022 – 12 Jan 2022
- Approved Premises (Substance Testing) Bill 8 Dec 2021 – 15 Dec 2021
Previous seats
- Runnymede and Weybridge · Elected 1 time 12 Dec 2019 – 30 May 2024
Elections contested
- Camberwell and Peckham 8 Jun 2017
Expenses
Contact & offices
0207 219 6783
Parliamentary office
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Dr Ben Spencer, answered from official Parliament data.
Who is Dr Ben Spencer?
Dr Ben Spencer is a Member of Parliament representing Runnymede and Weybridge in the House of Commons. See Dr Ben Spencer's official Parliament profile.
Which party does Dr Ben Spencer represent?
Dr Ben Spencer sits as Conservative. See Dr Ben Spencer's official Parliament profile.
Which constituency does Dr Ben Spencer represent?
Dr Ben Spencer is the Member of Parliament for Runnymede and Weybridge. See Dr Ben Spencer's official Parliament profile.
How long has Dr Ben Spencer been an MP?
Dr Ben Spencer has served in the House of Commons for 6 years, 7 months. See Dr Ben Spencer's official Parliament profile.
What registered interests are listed for Dr Ben Spencer?
Dr Ben Spencer has 5 entries in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. See Dr Ben Spencer's official Parliament profile.
Source: this MP's official Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.