LabourREPORT
Melanie Ward

Melanie Ward

Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy

New
2024 intake
1yr 8mo
Current term
93%
Party loyalty
2
Rebellions
30/36
Key votes
£196k
Expenses

2024 Election Result

45.7%
Vote share
7,248
Majority
56.8%
Turnout
71,845
Electorate
LabMelanie WardWON
18,66245.7%
SNPLesley Backhouse
11,41428%
ConJonathan Gray
3,2037.8%
RefSonia Davidson
3,1287.7%
LDFraser Graham
1,5933.9%
GreenMags Hall
1,5563.8%
AlbaNeale Hanvey
1,1322.8%
Scot LibtCalum Paul
1260.3%

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