MPs overall voting pattern

It is very rare to have two major conscience issues in two days. The downside is it is exhausting. The upside is it means even more analysis! I’ve done a table showing how each MP voted on both issues.

I’ve applied labels of “liberal” for those who voted for marriage equality and 18 purchase age (on 1st or 2nd ballot). Yes I know I said you can be conservative and vote for same sex marriage. Labels are never wholly accurate. It’s just a convenient term in this case – not a tag for life.

Those who voted against marriage equality bill and for a 20 purchase age get the “conservative” label.

And those who voted for marriage equality but a 20 purchase age or against marriage equality and an 18 purchase age, I have cheekily labelled “confused” 🙂

So, applying the normal analysis to the Parliament, we have:

So overall 56 MPs voted “liberal”, 29 MPs “conservative” and 36 MPs were “confused” or as they might call it, moderate 🙂

What demographics stand out?

Electorate and List MPs are roughly equally liberal and conservative.

Female MPs are definitely more liberal. Male MPs are split almost three ways between liberal, conservative and confused.

European and Maori MPs are more liberal than Asian and Pacific MPs.

MPs aged in their 40s are more conservative then those both younger and older than them.

Wellington and Christchurch have almost no conservative MPs – just three out of 28.

Rural MPs are slightly more liberal than provincial MPs. South Island more liberal than North Island also.

The Cabinet has eight liberals, eight confused and four conservative.

There are no “conservative” gay or lesbian MPs – but three of them are confused 🙂

The MPs who entered in 1980s and 2002 are most liberal. The 2011 intake is the most conservative.