Budget Resolution No. 36: Stamp duty land tax (additional dwellings: purchases on or after 1 April 2025)
373
Ayes
—
110
Noes
Passed · Government won
163 did not vote
Analysis
Commons
Commons
**What happened:** On 6 November 2024, the House of Commons voted on Budget Resolution No. 36, which proposed raising the stamp duty land tax surcharge on additional dwellings (such as buy-to-let properties and second homes) from 3% to 5%, effective from purchases on or after 1 April 2025. The resolution passed by 373 votes to 110. **Why it matters:** The change means that anyone buying a property they do not intend to occupy as their primary residence will pay a higher additional rate of stamp duty on top of the standard rates. The government's stated aim is to reduce competition from investors and second-home buyers in the housing market, making it easier for first-time buyers and owner-occupiers to purchase homes. Critics argue the measure will deter landlords from buying properties, shrinking the supply of rental homes and pushing rents higher for those who cannot afford to buy regardless of the surcharge level. **The politics:** The vote divided along clear party lines. Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs voted unanimously in favour, joined by the four Green MPs, one SDLP MP, and a majority of independents. All 98 Conservative MPs who voted opposed the measure, as did all four Reform UK members, three Democratic Unionist Party MPs, and one Traditional Unionist Voice MP. There were no notable cross-party rebellions on either side. The resolution forms part of the government's October 2024 Budget package and sits alongside other measures targeting the private rental sector and housing market, including the concurrent Renters' Rights Bill passing through Parliament at the same time.
Voting Aye meant
Support raising the stamp duty surcharge on additional dwellings to discourage property investment that crowds out first-time buyers and owner-occupiers
Voting No meant
Oppose the higher surcharge, arguing it reduces rental housing supply, harms landlords, or is an unwelcome tax increase
483 voting MPs. Each dot is one vote; left-to-right by party. Grey dots in the centre are the 163 who did not vote.
Aye
No
Absent
Labour PartyWhipped Aye
329
0
33
Conservative and Unionist PartyWhipped No
0
98
18
Liberal Democrats
0
0
72
Labour and Co-operative PartyWhipped Aye
35
0
7
Independent
5
4
5
Scottish National Party
0
0
9
Reform UKWhipped No
0
4
3
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