Member of Parliament
Claire Hanna
Social Democratic & Labour Party MP for Belfast South and Mid Down
At a glanceClaire Hanna is a Social Democratic & Labour Party MP for Belfast South and Mid Down, and has represented the seat for 6 years, 7 months. They have cast 117 votes in Commons divisions (20% attendance) and tabled 879 written questions.
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 575 Commons divisions since the 2024 election; Claire Hanna did not vote in 458. 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
Current roles
- Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Committee since 28 Oct 2024
- Belfast South and Mid Down Representation · Elected 1 time since 4 Jul 2024
- Social Democratic & Labour Party Party since 12 Dec 2019
Voting record
Voting alignment
Votes most like
-
Colum Eastwood Social Democratic & Labour Party 100.0% · 76 of 76 shared votes
-
Richard Burgon
Labour
94.1% · 95 of 101 shared votes
-
Ms Diane Abbott
Independent
93.0% · 66 of 71 shared votes
-
Imran Hussain
Labour
91.7% · 77 of 84 shared votes
-
Dave Doogan
Scottish National Party
91.1% · 51 of 56 shared votes
Votes least like
-
Jack Rankin
Conservative
7.1% · 6 of 84 shared votes
-
Sir Jeremy Hunt
Conservative
7.1% · 5 of 70 shared votes
-
Nick Timothy
Conservative
7.5% · 6 of 80 shared votes
-
Sir Alec Shelbrooke
Conservative
7.5% · 5 of 67 shared votes
-
Mr Richard Holden
Conservative
8.1% · 7 of 86 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.
Written questions
Biometrics: Gaza
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her department plans to facilitate biometrics checks in Gaza following the statement by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to the House on 24th June 2026 rega
Answer · 7 Jul 2026
All individuals who enter the UK as part of the Medevac and Student processes will be subject to robust security checks and will be required to submit their biometrics ahead of travel. This is a vital way of protecting the UK public from individuals who p...
Animal Experiments
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to end unethical and unnecessary animal testing.
Answer · 6 Jul 2026
The Home Office regulates the use of animals in science under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). Animal testing that is unethical, unnecessary or not scientifically justified is not permitted. The use of animals is only permitted where t...
Birds: Gun Sports
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to deliver a ban on the (a) breeding, (b) release and (c) killing of birds for sport.
Answer · 2 Jul 2026
This Government has no plans to ban the breeding, release or killing of birds for sport.
Arts: Education
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on improving access to creative education for children and young people from lower income families.
Answer · 6 Jul 2026
Ensuring all children and young people can access high-quality creative education is a government priority. The Secretary of State and Ministers regularly engage with colleagues at the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver the shared mission of breaki...
Performing Arts: Training
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the impact the cost of specialist creative training and auditions has on access to careers in the performing arts.
Answer · 6 Jul 2026
Making creative careers accessible is a key priority for this government. We recognise that specialist creative training can be a popular pathway into a performing arts career, but the Government has not assessed the cost impact for individuals. Forthcomi...
Arts: Training and Vacancies
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Creative Industries Council regarding skills shortages and creative education pathways.
Answer · 6 Jul 2026
DCMS works closely with the Creative Industries Council (CIC), and in particular its Talent and Skills working group, to support government and industry’s work to address skills shortages and develop creative education pathways, furthering our Sector Plan...
Media: GCSE
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of state secondary schools that currently offer GCSE Media Studies.
Awaiting an answer from the Department for Education.
Film and Media: Education
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration was given to the social and economic value media studies and film studies as part of the Curriculum and Assessment Review.
Awaiting an answer from the Department for Education.
Early day motions
| 4 Feb 2026 | Conduct of Lord Mandelson (No. 3) | 7 sig. |
| 26 Jan 2026 | 75th anniversary of the Lyric Theatre Belfast | 5 sig. |
| 26 Jul 2024 | Community Ownership Fund | 14 sig. |
| 30 Nov 2023 | Teachers' pay in Northern Ireland | 10 sig. |
| 16 Oct 2023 | Baby loss awareness week and employer’s guidelines | 16 sig. |
| 16 Oct 2023 | Environmental situation at Lough Neagh | 11 sig. |
Speeches in the chamber
8 Jul 2026 Community Cohesion
Community cohesion is deeply threatened by the violence and menace that took place on the streets last month, which included deliberate orchestration and paramilitary flags and trappings that now fly as bold as brass from lampposts in my c…
17 Jun 2026 Engagements
I, too, wish to pay tribute to Jo Cox and her family, and to the commitment in her name that we tackle division and extremism. We saw extremism play out on the streets of Belfast last week—a pogrom where families were burned out based on t…
10 Jun 2026 Belfast: Violent Disorder
It has been a shocking two days in Northern Ireland. The horrific knife attack in north Belfast has left a man fighting for his life, and an entire community distressed by what they have seen. Justice must of course take its course and del…
10 Jun 2026 Belfast: Violent Disorder
(Urgent Question): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make a statement on the violent disorder that took place last night in Belfast.
3 Jun 2026 Improving the UK Visa System
I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate, and thank the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Blake Stephenson) for securing it. In doing so, I acknowledge the complexity of the issue and the dynamics, which many Members may agree…
20 May 2026 Defence Readiness
Will the shadow Minister acknowledge that no party and no victims’ group in Northern Ireland supports the Conservative party’s approach to the past, and that even the Dillon judgment last week did not in any way rule it legal? Would he not…
25 Mar 2026 Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation
One of the lingering legacies of violence in Northern Ireland is our outrageous and distressing levels of violence against women and girls, in the echo of menace and threat that still exists in Northern Ireland. The murders this month of E…
19 Mar 2026 Northern Ireland: Legacy of the Past
I thank the hon. Member for all her efforts on behalf of victims of the troubles and others. This is a chance to put in place accountability mechanisms that we should have put in place decades ago, particularly for those who do not have a …
18 Mar 2026 Engagements
We have seen this play out before: a US rush to military escalation with no plan for what comes next. We have seen schoolgirls bombed in Iran, whole families killed in Lebanon, chaos in a region already scarred by repression and genocide, …
10 Mar 2026 Northern Ireland Hospitality Sector: VAT
As well as the business pressures, a majority of households in Northern Ireland and many businesses use heating oil as their main heating source, so they are particularly exposed to shocks such as that which we are experiencing due to the …
10 Mar 2026 Northern Ireland Hospitality Sector: VAT
10. What recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of reducing VAT for the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland.
11 Feb 2026 Economic Impact of Government Policies
The local growth fund was a UK Government policy that had been working to support some people outside of the labour market into decent work, helping to address Northern Ireland’s low productivity rates. The UK Government have changed that …
4 Feb 2026 Lord Mandelson
The House is getting a lesson that many families in Northern Ireland, such as those of Sean Brown and the victims of Stakeknife, have learned over decades that national security is routinely deployed to cover the blushes of the UK Governme…
4 Feb 2026 Lord Mandelson
rose—
21 Jan 2026 Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation
The Social Democratic and Labour party welcomes this remedial order, which goes some way to restoring the rule of law to legacy processes and in turn to the present day. The introduction by the previous Government of an amnesty and the clo…
21 Jan 2026 Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and Reconciliation
I think that many of those supporting the Omagh families would like to see a parallel and comprehensive inquiry. Does the hon. Member agree that the logical thing to do would have been to co-design that, and for both Governments to bring f…
13 Jan 2026 Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform
Does the Minister acknowledge that at the time of the Good Friday agreement, the parties did not arrive together at consensus, and nor did they with the likes of the St Andrews agreement, when things were distorted? Does he agree that it i…
13 Jan 2026 Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform
The hon. Gentleman asked me to intervene. Unfortunately, the hon. and learned Member for North Antrim (Jim Allister) would not take my intervention, and I am sad about that. I was seeking to clarify whether his party’s position had moved f…
13 Jan 2026 Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform
Will the right hon. Member confirm whether he believes that the Assembly has or should have responsibility for international affairs, which is included in the Windsor framework, and can he outline where cross-community consent for Brexit w…
13 Jan 2026 Northern Ireland Political Institutions: Reform
rose—
Source: contributions on parliament.uk.
Full parliamentary career
Committee memberships
- Northern Ireland Affairs Committee 2 Mar 2020 – 30 May 2024
- British Citizenship (Northern Ireland) Bill 20 Mar 2024 – 17 Apr 2024
- Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill 28 Jun 2021 – 6 Jul 2021
Previous seats
- Belfast South · Elected 1 time 12 Dec 2019 – 30 May 2024
Elections contested
- Strangford 6 May 2010
Expenses
Contact & offices
0207 219 3000
Parliamentary office
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
Constituency office
1 Rushfield Avenue, Belfast, BT7 3FP
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Claire Hanna, answered from official Parliament data.
Who is Claire Hanna?
Claire Hanna is a Member of Parliament representing Belfast South and Mid Down in the House of Commons. See Claire Hanna's official Parliament profile.
Which party does Claire Hanna represent?
Claire Hanna sits as Social Democratic & Labour Party. See Claire Hanna's official Parliament profile.
Which constituency does Claire Hanna represent?
Claire Hanna is the Member of Parliament for Belfast South and Mid Down. See Claire Hanna's official Parliament profile.
How long has Claire Hanna been an MP?
Claire Hanna has served in the House of Commons for 6 years, 7 months. See Claire Hanna's official Parliament profile.
What registered interests are listed for Claire Hanna?
Claire Hanna has no entries in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. See Claire Hanna's official Parliament profile.
Source: this MP's official Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.