FINANCIAL secretary Ruth Kelly turned up to fewer house of Commons votes than the majority of her colleagues.

The Bolton West MP took part in just 29.2 per cent of divisions or votes in the last parliamentary session -- placing her 13th from bottom.

But Ms Kelly had a valid excuse -- she took several months off to have a baby, her latest, Niamh, being born in May at St Thomas' Hospital, overlooking the Palace of Westminster.

She is now in the record books as the MP to have given birth the most times since being elected in 1997. Ms Kelly is also mother to Eamonn, Sinead and Roisin, with her husband, Derek.

Bolton South-east MP Dr Brian Iddon attended 87.5 per cent of the votes while Bolton North-east MP David Crausby turned up to 74.8 per cent.

Ms Kelly said: "The role of an MP is a lot more than waiting around the House of Commons for a vote. My ministerial responsibility at the treasury does mean that I'm frequently away from the house and unable to vote."

Bottom of the voting league was Prime Minister Tony Blair who took part in nine per cent of the votes in the session, which ended in November. Chancellor Gordon Brown was marginally behind on 12.6 per cent.

Disgraced MP George Galloway, the independent MP expelled from the Labour Party over the war in Iraq, attended the fewest votes of all backbenchers, turning up to only 14 per cent of divisions or votes.

The MPs at the top of the voting table were Government whips or tellers. Bury North MP David Chaytor has turned up to 73.2 per cent of votes during his second elected period while Bury South MP Ivan Lewis attended 63.5 per cent.