Budget Resolution No. 35: Stamp duty land tax (additional dwellings: purchases before 1 April 2025)
378
Ayes
—
116
Noes
Passed · Government won
153 did not vote
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament voted on 6 November 2024 to approve Budget Resolution No. 35, which raised the stamp duty land tax surcharge applied to purchases of additional residential properties, such as buy-to-let investments and second homes, for transactions completed before 1 April 2025. The resolution passed by 378 votes to 116, with government support driving a comfortable majority. The measure increased the surcharge payable on top of standard stamp duty rates when buyers acquire a property they do not intend to use as their primary residence. In practical terms, this makes purchasing a second home or a buy-to-let property more expensive, with the government's stated aim of reducing speculative demand in the housing market and freeing up more homes for owner-occupiers, particularly first-time buyers. The change affects landlords, investors and second home purchasers across England and Northern Ireland, where stamp duty land tax applies. The vote divided largely along party lines. Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs voted unanimously in favour, joined by the Liberal Democrats who voted aye, the Greens, and a small number of independents. The Conservatives voted against in their entirety, as did Reform UK, the Democratic Unionist Party, and several independent members. There were no notable cross-party rebellions. The measure sits within the broader context of the October 2024 Budget, with the government also pursuing related housing and rental reforms through legislation such as the Renters' Rights Bill, which faced its own contested votes in early 2025.
Voting Aye meant
Support increasing the stamp duty surcharge on additional property purchases, raising costs for buy-to-let landlords and second-home buyers to benefit first-time buyers and raise revenue
Voting No meant
Oppose the higher surcharge on additional dwellings, arguing it discourages investment in rental housing or harms the property market
494 voting MPs. Each dot is one vote; left-to-right by party. Grey dots in the centre are the 153 who did not vote.
Aye
No
Absent
Labour PartyWhipped Aye
330
0
32
Conservative and Unionist PartyWhipped No
0
99
17
Liberal DemocratsWhipped Aye
5
0
67
Labour and Co-operative PartyWhipped Aye
35
0
7
Independent
3
8
3
Scottish National Party
0
0
9
Reform UKWhipped No
0
5
2
Sinn Féin
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist PartyWhipped No
0
3
2
Green Party of England and WalesWhipped Aye
4
0
—
Plaid Cymru
0
0
4
Social Democratic and Labour Party
1
0
1
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
0
0
1
Speaker
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
0
1
—
Ulster Unionist Party
0
1
—
Your Party
1
0
—
Growth requires public investment in infrastructure, services and regions; Budget sets foundation for long-term prosperity by restoring fiscal stability; inheritance tax changes affect only ~500 farms; OBR cannot model planning reform, industrial strategy, or trade policy benefits.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,935 words) →
Budget crushes business with £25bn national insurance 'jobs tax' that reduces wages more than revenue raised; inheritance tax and capital gains changes attack family businesses; no evidence Budget will drive growth; Government lacks business experience.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (3,345 words) →
NHS investment welcome but social care silence unacceptable; national insurance rise harms small businesses, GPs, hospices and high streets; business rates reforms insufficient; urges exemptions for charities and social care; growth should not rely solely on infrastructure investment.Liberal Democrat · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (1,694 words) →
OBR forecasts show GDP growth will slow and turn negative in years 4-5; Budget will shrink private sector, not grow it; challenges Government's claim growth is central mission.Conservative · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (97 words) →
Private sector, not public investment, drives growth; Budget fails to help businesses; national insurance rise nets only £16bn after lost investment, with 75% burden falling on workers' wages.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (1,600 words) →
Last 14 years left public services fragile; Budget offers hope with NHS funding, affordable housing, homelessness support; temporary accommodation crisis affecting children requires urgent further action.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (912 words) →
Labour broke election promises on taxes, borrowing and inheritance tax; Budget leans into broken economic model with more borrowing and tax-spend rather than fixing structural problems (planning, migration, capital markets); A303 transport cuts regretted.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (2,223 words) →
Many good things in Budget but inheritance tax threatens family farms; threshold should be raised to £4-5m to protect farmers; every farmer in Northern Ireland will be affected.DUP · Voted no · Read full speech (173 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0