English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Reasoned Amendment
167
Ayes
—
367
Noes
Defeated · Government won
113 did not vote
Analysis
Commons
Commons
What happened: On 2 September 2025, the House of Commons voted on a reasoned amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill at its Second Reading. A reasoned amendment is a procedural motion that, if passed, would have prevented the bill from progressing any further by stating formal objections to it. The amendment was defeated by 367 votes to 167, allowing the bill to proceed to its next parliamentary stages. Why it matters: The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill aims to transfer powers from central government in Westminster to English regions and local authorities, continuing and extending a devolution agenda for England. Defeating this blocking amendment means the bill advanced through its early parliamentary scrutiny stage, keeping alive the prospect of significant changes to how England is governed at a regional and local level. The reforms would affect how public services, planning, and economic decisions are made across English communities. The politics: The vote divided sharply along party lines. The Conservative Party (88 votes), Liberal Democrats (71 votes), Democratic Unionist Party (3 votes), and Reform UK (2 votes) all voted for the amendment to block the bill, while Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs voted unanimously against the amendment, delivering the government its comfortable majority. The Liberal Democrats joining the Conservatives in opposing the bill is notable, as the party generally supports devolution, suggesting their objections were to the specific terms of this legislation rather than devolution in principle. The bill subsequently continued through Parliament, passing its Third Reading on 25 November 2025 by 322 votes to 179.
Voting Aye meant
Support blocking the Bill, arguing it does not adequately protect local democratic accountability or the voice of communities
Voting No meant
Support the Bill progressing, backing greater devolution of powers to English mayors and local areas to drive economic growth and empower communities
534 voting MPs. Each dot is one vote; left-to-right by party. Grey dots in the centre are the 113 who did not vote.
Aye
No
Absent
Labour PartyWhipped No
0
323
39
Conservative and Unionist PartyWhipped Aye
88
0
28
Liberal DemocratsWhipped Aye
71
0
1
Labour and Co-operative PartyWhipped No
0
37
5
Independent
1
7
5
Scottish National Party
0
0
9
Reform UK
2
0
6
Sinn Féin
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist PartyWhipped Aye
3
0
2
Green Party of England and Wales
0
0
4
Plaid Cymru
0
0
4
Social Democratic and Labour Party
0
0
2
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
1
0
—
Speaker
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
1
0
—
Ulster Unionist Party
1
0
—
Your Party
0
1
—
Bill delivers biggest transfer of power in a generation, ending begging-bowl culture, empowering mayors with planning/housing/transport powers, and strengthening communities through neighbourhood governance and asset protection.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (3,851 words) →
Bill is centralisation disguised as devolution, imposing restructuring without consent, raising taxes through mayoral precepts, weakening councils, and failing five tests: genuine choice, consensus, public support, bill control, and social care protection.Conservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,471 words) →
Devolution principle supported but Bill centralises control, leaves areas unequally treated, weakens local accountability through appointed commissioners, and misses opportunity for genuine community empowerment or proportional representation.Liberal Democrat · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,306 words) →
Questions where accountability and scrutiny will come from and how local people's voices will truly be heard under the mayor-led model.Conservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,264 words) →
Points to Scotland as cautionary tale of centralised powers taken away from communities; warns against replicating that mistake south of the border.SNP · Voted aye · Read full speech (82 words) →
Generally supportive of devolution ambition but seeks protection for Sheffield's existing committee governance system, which was chosen by local referendum and should be respected.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (676 words) →
Mayor-led devolution is inappropriate for diverse areas like Devon; reorganisation costs money without saving it; parish councils and national park authorities are overlooked; statutory duty to cooperate needed.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (900 words) →
London lacks sufficient accountability for its devolved powers; Assembly's two-thirds majority requirement needs abolition; boroughs should have voice in decision-making; Mayor Khan's ULEZ and tax increases show need for stronger scrutiny.Conservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (711 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0