Helen Whately
Conservative · Faversham and Mid Kent
FULL PROFILEHelen Whately is the Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, first elected in 2015. She is 49 years old. As an opposition MP, they are expected to vote against the government on most whipped divisions.
Ideology
Voting Behaviour
Key Interests
Health and Social Care · Welfare Reform · Agricultural Policy · Death Certification Process · Pension Policy
Positions
Immigration — Supports stricter immigration and asylum systems
strong
Welfare Reform — Advocates comprehensive welfare system reform to reduce dependency and increase employment
strong
Agricultural Policy — Strong defender of farming interests and rural economy, opposes inheritance tax changes affecting family farms
strong
Pension Investment — Opposes government control over pension investment decisions, supports individual choice
moderate
Health Policy — Supports NHS funding and protective measures during health crises
strong
Death Certification — Advocates for efficient death certification processes to reduce family distress
moderate
Government Transparency — Opposes excessive delegation of powers to ministers, supports parliamentary oversight
moderate
COVID-19 Response — Supported protective measures and NHS support during pandemic
strong
Notable Rebellions
2022-03-30 — Voted with government on health policy amendment, showing loyalty to Conservative health agenda
2023-03-07 — Voted against government position on public order legislation
2025-06-17 — Voted against new clause in crime and policing legislation
Reasoning Style
Pragmatic and evidence-based, combining business-oriented analysis with constituency-focused advocacy. Uses detailed policy knowledge and statistical evidence to support arguments, particularly in health and welfare debates.
Background
Helen Whately worked in management consulting and financial services before entering Parliament, bringing business and economic expertise to her political career.