Is your MP speaking up? The most and least vocal MPs in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester's MPs have been ranked according to how often speak in Parliament. In the first three months of the year, the city-region's 27 parliamentary representatives made on average fewer than the average number of spoken contributions for an MP which was 35.

Oldham MP Debbie Abrahams made the highest number of contributions in the first parliamentary session of the year, having spoken 64 times. She was followed by fellow Labour MP for Denton and Reddish, Andrew Gwynne, who made 55 contributions in the first three months of 2024.

Yvonne Fovargue, who is the Labour MP for Makerfield, was tied with Conservative grandee Sir Graham Brady, who is the MP for Altrincham and Sale West, at the bottom of the list having each spoken twice. Only six MPs in Greater Manchester spoke more than average at the start of 2024 with the average number of contributions by the city-region's representatives standing at less than 20.

READ MORE: New poll suggests surprising result at Greater Manchester mayor election

It comes amid claims of a 'Zombie Parliament' while the country waits for the date of the next general election to be decided. The FT reported last month that the length of days sat at the House of Commons during the last session was the shortest ever on record.

More than 25 MPs have not spoken a single time in the Commons chamber so far this year, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss. A spokesperson for the South West Norfolk MP blamed 'shameless filibustering' by Labour when she tried to present a bill last month.

Ms Truss’s Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has also not spoken in the Commons this year - however, he has made two contributions to Westminster Hall debates. He is among 99 MPs - two-thirds of them Tories- who are standing down before the next general election.

In total, there are over 50 MPs who have not made any spoken contributions during any of the Commons chamber debates this year, but that figure includes government and opposition whips, who do not speak in debates under parliamentary convention, and also seven Sinn Fein MPs who do not attend Parliament. A further six have been unable to attend Westminster this year for health reasons.

Here is the full list of Greater Manchester MPs, ranked by how many times they spoke in Parliament in the first three months of 2024.

• Debbie Abrahams (Labour), Oldham East and Saddleworth: 64

• Andrew Gwynne (Labour), Denton and Reddish: 55

• Jonathan Reynolds (Labour Co-op), Stalybridge and Hyde: 39

• James Daly (Conservative), Bury North: 35

• Lucy Powell (Labour Co-op), Manchester, Central: 35

• Afzal Khan (Labour), Manchester Gorton: 34

• Jim McMahon (Labour Co-op), Oldham West and Royton: 31

• Jeff Smith (Labour), Manchester Withington: 23

• Yasmin Qureshi (Labour), Bolton South East: 21

• Chris Clarkson (Conservative), Heywood and Middleton: 21

• Andrew Western (Labour), Stretford and Urmston: 21

• Christian Wakeford (Labour), Bury South: 18

• Mark Logan (Conservative), Bolton North East: 17

• Rebecca Long-Bailey (Labour), Salford and Eccles: 14

• Barbara Keeley (Labour), Worsley and Eccles South: 14

• George Galloway (Workers Party), Rochdale: 13

• Mike Kane (Labour), Wythenshawe and Sale East: 12

• Mary Robinson (Conseratives), Cheadle: 9

• Graham Stringer (Labour), Blackley and Broughton: 8

• Chris Green (Conservative), Bolton West: 8

• Angela Rayner (Labour), Ashton-under-Lyne: 6

• William Wragg (Conservative), Hazel Grove: 6

• Nav Mishra (Labour), Stockport: 6

• James Grundy (Conservative), Leigh: 3

• Lisa Nandy (Labour), Wigan: 3

• Sir Graham Brady (Conservative), Altrincham and Sale West: 2

• Yvonne Fovargue (Labour), Makerfield: 2