Great British Energy Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
94
Ayes
—
348
Noes
Defeated · Government won
205 did not vote
Analysis
Commons
Commons
**What happened:** On 5 September 2024, MPs voted on a Conservative reasoned amendment (a formal motion to reject a bill at Second Reading, the stage where its general principles are debated) to the Great British Energy Bill. The amendment sought to block the bill from proceeding. It was defeated by 348 votes to 94, allowing the bill to advance to its next parliamentary stage. **Why it matters:** The Great British Energy Bill would create a new publicly-owned company to invest in clean energy projects across the United Kingdom. Defeating the amendment clears the way for that company to be established, with the government arguing it will reduce energy bills, increase energy security, and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. Had the amendment passed, the bill would have been killed at an early stage, preventing the creation of the public body altogether. **The politics:** The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. All 93 Conservative MPs who voted supported the amendment, while all voting Labour, Labour and Co-operative, Green, and most other opposition MPs voted against it. A single Reform UK MP and one DUP MP also backed the amendment. The Conservatives argued the bill represented unnecessary state intervention in the energy market. The result reflects the government's substantial Commons majority, which it deployed comfortably to see off the challenge.
Voting Aye meant
Support blocking the Great British Energy Bill, opposing the creation of a new state-owned energy company and preferring market-led energy policy
Voting No meant
Support the Great British Energy Bill proceeding, backing the creation of a publicly owned clean energy company as part of Labour's energy and industrial strategy
442 voting MPs. Each dot is one vote; left-to-right by party. Grey dots in the centre are the 205 who did not vote.
Aye
No
Absent
Labour PartyWhipped No
0
306
56
Conservative and Unionist PartyWhipped Aye
93
0
23
Liberal Democrats
0
0
72
Labour and Co-operative PartyWhipped No
0
32
10
Independent
1
4
9
Scottish National Party
0
0
9
Reform UK
1
0
6
Sinn Féin
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
1
0
4
Green Party of England and WalesWhipped No
0
4
—
Plaid Cymru
0
0
4
Social Democratic and Labour Party
0
0
2
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
0
0
1
Speaker
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
0
0
1
Ulster Unionist Party
0
1
—
Your Party
0
1
—
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero; supports Bill as essential to break from 14 years of fossil fuel dependence, create jobs through supply chain development, and ensure British public ownership of energy assets comparable to Nordic and French state companies.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (3,448 words) →
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero; opposes Bill as a blank cheque with no investment plan, no credible path to promised £300 bill savings by 2030, poor governance structure, and risks turning into a repository for failed projects like Robin Hood Energy.Conservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (3,825 words) →
Welcomes renewable energy ambition and government support for green investment but criticizes Bill for omitting community energy provisions despite Labour's manifesto commitment and the need for regulatory changes to enable local energy projects.Liberal Democrat · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (2,475 words) →
Defends Conservative record of increasing renewables from 7% to 50% of electricity; questions what state ownership will add beyond current effective private-sector-led system and challenges Secretary of State's lack of plan to deliver 2030 decarbonisation target.Conservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (411 words) →
Opposes Bill, arguing £1.6 billion annual investment is insufficient to meaningfully impact the £50 billion renewable electricity market, meaning British public ownership will remain minimal.DUP · Voted aye · Read full speech (926 words) →
Advocates net zero but criticizes Bill as a shell company without energy policy; demands government forecasts on balancing costs, grid infrastructure spending, and electricity imports; highlights storage and constraint payment costs not reflected in government messaging.Conservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,768 words) →
Maiden speaker supporting Bill; highlights constituency benefits from offshore wind farms (Gwynt y Môr, North Hoyle) and potential for good-quality sustainable jobs in north Wales through Great British Energy.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (1,759 words) →
Maiden speaker supporting Bill; advocates sovereign UK energy investment after UK public has subsidized clean energy abroad; emphasizes government focus on transforming energy, housing and transport infrastructure.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (1,815 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0