Opposition Day: Business and the economy

Parliament voted on 21 May 2025 on an Opposition Day motion brought by the Conservative Party criticising the Labour government's handling of business and economic policy. Opposition Day motions allow the party out of government to set the parliamentary agenda and force a debate and vote on issues of their choosing. The motion was defeated by 253 votes to 88, with no Labour MPs voting in favour and the Conservative benches providing the bulk of support for the ayes. The vote did not change any law or government policy directly, as Opposition Day motions are not legally binding. However, the debate served as a formal parliamentary challenge to Labour's economic agenda, covering concerns about the government's approach to business regulation, taxation, and economic management. The practical effect was to give the Conservatives a platform to highlight what they describe as damage to business confidence and economic growth under Labour. The party divide was near-total. All 252 Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted sided with the government in the no lobby. The 80 Conservative MPs who voted backed the motion in the ayes lobby, joined by four Reform UK MPs, four independents, one Traditional Unionist Voice MP, and one Democratic Unionist Party MP. There were no cross-party defections from Labour. A substantial number of MPs were absent across all parties, including 135 Labour MPs and 36 Conservatives, which is not unusual for Opposition Day debates, which tend to attract lower turnout than votes on government legislation.