Opposition Day: UK-EU Summit
104
Ayes
—
402
Noes
Defeated · Government won
141 did not vote
Analysis
Commons
Commons
**What happened:** On 13 May 2025, MPs voted on an opposition day motion (a debate initiated by the opposition rather than the government) calling for a UK-EU summit to strengthen cooperation and improve post-Brexit relations. The motion was defeated by 402 votes to 104. On the same day, MPs also voted on a government amendment to the motion, which passed 321 to 102, replacing the opposition's wording with the government's preferred framing. **Why it matters:** The motion would have committed Parliament to calling for a formal UK-EU summit aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation. Its defeat means no such parliamentary pressure was applied to the government. The vote reflects ongoing debate about the appropriate level of engagement between the UK and the European Union following Brexit, touching on trade, security cooperation, and diplomatic relations that affect businesses, workers, and citizens across the country. **The politics:** The vote produced an unusual cross-party alignment. Conservatives, who led the opposition motion, were joined in the Aye lobby by Reform UK and the Democratic Unionist Party, despite those parties generally holding more Eurosceptic positions. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, and the Greens all voted No, meaning the government defeated the motion with broad progressive and nationalist support. The result reflects a tactical political dynamic: parties that broadly favour closer EU ties voted against the motion, while the Conservatives used it to put the government on the spot over its handling of post-Brexit diplomacy.
Voting Aye meant
Support the opposition's motion on the UK-EU Summit, signalling concern about the government's approach to post-Brexit EU relations and demanding greater transparency or accountability
Voting No meant
Back the government's handling of the UK-EU Summit and reject the opposition's attempt to constrain or criticise its negotiating strategy with the EU
506 voting MPs. Each dot is one vote; left-to-right by party. Grey dots in the centre are the 141 who did not vote.
Aye
No
Absent
Labour PartyWhipped No
0
290
72
Conservative and Unionist PartyWhipped Aye
94
0
22
Liberal DemocratsWhipped No
0
62
10
Labour and Co-operative PartyWhipped No
0
30
12
Independent
2
4
7
Scottish National PartyWhipped No
0
6
3
Reform UKWhipped Aye
7
0
1
Sinn Féin
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
1
0
4
Green Party of England and WalesWhipped No
0
4
—
Plaid CymruWhipped No
0
4
—
Social Democratic and Labour Party
0
1
1
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
0
0
1
Speaker
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
1
0
—
Ulster Unionist Party
1
0
—
Your Party
0
1
—
Conservative Party must maintain hard Brexit red lines: reject youth mobility schemes, dynamic alignment, ECJ jurisdiction, and new payments to EU; defend fishing rights and ensure NATO remains sole defence foundationConservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (3,487 words) →
Government has clear mandate to reset UK-EU relationship on safety, security, and growth; will not rejoin single market or customs union or accept freedom of movement, but pragmatically negotiates to reduce trade barriers and strengthen defence cooperationLabour · Voted no · Read full speech (3,522 words) →
Conservative motion offers no solutions; Labour's half-measures fall short; Liberal Democrats advocate bold four-step roadmap including eventual customs union and single market membership to unlock growthLiberal Democrat · Voted no · Read full speech (2,940 words) →
Referendum result represents superior mandate to single-term election; concerns about European defence procurement favouring France/Germany; warns against dynamic alignment and ECJ jurisdictionConservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (4,349 words) →
UK already has defence cooperation and owns significant military capabilities; government must explain what tangible benefits a new defence pact provides before agreeingConservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (3,893 words) →
Government pragmatism replaces Conservative chaos; EU trade deal essential for growth; youth mobility scheme and defence partnership strengthen Britain without reversing BrexitLabour · Voted no · Read full speech (2,583 words) →
Security and defence partnership with EU essential given Putin threat; cooperation with Europe strengthens rather than undermines UK securityLabour · Voted no · Read full speech (3,306 words) →
Both government and opposition are hard Brexiteers; questions damage of Brexit and seeks commitment to youth mobility scheme for young peopleScottish National Party · Voted no · Read full speech (159 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0