HYNDBURN MP Greg Pope has come top of a league table of voting records in the House of Commons.

The Labour Whip came equal first with two other North-West MPs - Bolton South East's Brian Iddon and West Lancashire's Colin Pickthall - managing 98 per cent of the 55 divisions between the Queen's Speech in November and the end of next month.

Also in the top 10 come Burnley MP Peter Pike and Pendle's Gordon Prentice - both equal eighth on 95 per cent.

Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans came 340th with a 56 per cent voting record, despite his job as Shadow Welsh spokesman.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson, managed 64 per cent of the votes, despite responsibilities as Minister for Broadcasting, Film, Tourism and Pop Music, which took her away from London on visits round Britain and across the world on several occasions.

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw, made just 42 per cent of votes - still considerably better than many of his Cabinet colleagues.

Mr Pope said: "Obviously I'm pleased. I knew I'd got a good voting record, but it's better than I expected. I suppose i ist because, as a government Whip, I have to be in the Commons most of the time.

"All the Lancashire MPs have a very good record, despite the fact many of them are Ministers or have other responsibilities. Jack and Janet's records are very good considering how often they have to be absent elsewhere in Britain or out of the country."

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