Environmental Voting History: Comparing Starmer’s Potential Successors
Following news of Keir Starmer’s resignation, attention has turned to the Labour Party figures most likely to replace him.
Environmental policy will be one of many issues facing the next prime minister. Fly-tipping, sewage discharge, recycling rates, climate adaptation, and vape fires have all become prominent public and business concerns in recent years.
Business Waste Ltd reviewed publicly available voting records and published environmental policy positions for three possible successors: Andy Burnham, Angela Rayner, and Ed Miliband.
This is purely a factual comparison only.
A note on the data
Voting record information is taken from TheyWorkForYou. Andy Burnham’s Commons voting record covers his previous time as an MP between 2001 and 2017, so it does not reflect votes from the current Parliament. Where relevant, his environmental work as Mayor of Greater Manchester has also been included.
Andy Burnham
On low-carbon electricity generation, Burnham’s voting record shows a mixed position on financial incentives, with one vote in favour, one against, and one absence between 2011 and 2013. He also generally voted in favour of high-speed rail infrastructure, with two votes in favour and four absences between 2013 and 2016.
As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham has been closely associated with the city-region’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2038. Under his leadership, Greater Manchester has also pursued an investment-led Clean Air Plan, alongside transport initiatives including the Bee Network and plans to expand zero-emission bus services.
On low-carbon electricity generation, Burnham’s voting record shows a mixed position on financial incentives, with one vote in favour, one against, and one absence between 2011 and 2013. He also generally voted in favour of high-speed rail infrastructure, with two votes in favour and four absences between 2013 and 2016.
As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham has been closely associated with the city-region’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2038. Under his leadership, Greater Manchester has also pursued an investment-led Clean Air Plan, alongside transport initiatives including the Bee Network and plans to expand zero-emission bus services.
Angela Rayner
Angela Rayner’s parliamentary voting record shows she almost always voted in favour of measures aimed at addressing climate change, with 16 votes in favour, one agreement, and seven absences between 2015 and 2025.
She generally voted in favour of financial incentives for low-carbon electricity generation, with two votes in favour and one absence between 2018 and 2025. She also generally voted in favour of high-speed rail infrastructure, recording two votes in favour and two absences between 2016 and 2021.
Rayner generally voted to retain environmental protections following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, with five votes in favour, two against, and one absence between 2016 and 2023.
Her voting record also shows general support for measures to improve biodiversity, air quality, and water quality. She consistently voted in favour of increasing the windfall tax on oil and gas companies, with three votes in favour and one absence between 2024 and 2025.
On electric vehicles, Rayner generally supported measures to encourage their adoption, with one vote in favour, one against, one agreement, and one absence between 2021 and 2025.
Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband’s parliamentary voting record shows he generally voted in favour of measures aimed at addressing climate change, with 20 votes in favour, one agreement, and 13 absences between 2007 and 2025.
He generally voted against reducing fuel taxes on motor vehicles, with four votes against and two absences between 2010 and 2021. He also generally voted against higher taxes on plane tickets, recording two votes against and seven absences between 2012 and 2017.
On low-carbon electricity generation, Miliband’s voting record shows general opposition to financial incentives, with one vote against and five absences between 2011 and 2025. He also generally voted in favour of greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas extraction, with one vote in favour and two absences between 2015 and 2022.
Miliband generally voted in favour of high-speed rail infrastructure, with two votes in favour and seven absences between 2013 and 2021. He also generally voted to preserve environmental protections following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, with five votes in favour, two against, and one absence between 2016 and 2023.
His voting record includes consistent support for measures to improve biodiversity and air quality in 2021. He also generally voted in favour of improving environmental water quality, with four votes in favour and two absences between 2012 and 2024.
Miliband consistently voted in favour of increasing the windfall tax on oil and gas companies, recording four votes in favour between 2024 and 2025. On electric vehicles, his voting record shows a mixed position on measures designed to encourage their purchase and use.
Key environmental issues facing the next
Prime Minister
Fly-tipping remains a significant waste issue in England, with 1.26 million incidents recorded in 2024/25.
Water quality is another high-profile environmental concern, with sewage discharges into rivers and coastal waters continuing to attract attention from regulators, campaign groups, and the public.
Recycling rates have also faced challenges in recent years. England’s household recycling rate fell slightly in 2024/25, while the introduction of Simpler Recycling reforms has created new responsibilities for businesses and local authorities.
Climate adaptation is becoming increasingly important as the UK experiences more frequent extreme weather events, including storms, heatwaves, and flooding.
Vape waste is another growing challenge for the waste sector. Incorrectly discarded vapes are linked to regular fires in waste facilities and collection vehicles, while millions of vapes and vape pods continue to be disposed of each week despite the disposable vape ban.
Mark Hall:
New candidates under environmental pressure
Mark Hall, waste management expert and co-founder of Business Waste Ltd, said:
Sources
- The Guardian – Fly-tipping across England reaches record high
- LetsRecycle – England’s top council recycling rate revealed for 2024/25
- Met Office – UK State of the Climate
- BBC News – Water quality and sewage pollution reporting
- Material Focus – Six million vapes and pods thrown away every week despite the vape ban
- TheyWorkForYou – Parliamentary voting records
- The Economist – Labour leadership contest analysis
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