Employment Rights Bill: Motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 46
314
Ayes
—
178
Noes
Passed · Government won
158 did not vote
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament voted on 15 September 2025 to reject Lords Amendment 46 to the Employment Rights Bill, with the government winning the division by 314 votes to 178. The motion asked the Commons to disagree with a modification the House of Lords had made to the Bill, effectively restoring the government's original text on that provision. Labour and Labour-Co-operative MPs voted almost unanimously in favour, while Conservative, Liberal Democrat, SNP, Reform UK, Plaid Cymru, Green and DUP members voted against. The vote matters because it advances the Employment Rights Bill closer to receiving Royal Assent in its government-preferred form. Lords Amendment 46 had altered a specific element of the employment rights framework the government is seeking to legislate, and by rejecting it the Commons reasserted its position on that provision. The Bill as a whole is intended to strengthen workers' protections, covering areas such as trade union rights, zero-hours contracts and unfair dismissal rules, and each contested amendment represents a concrete policy choice about the scope and detail of those protections. The division followed strict party lines, with no Conservative, Liberal Democrat or other opposition MPs supporting the government, and only one Labour MP voting against. Three independents joined the government majority. This vote is part of a prolonged back-and-forth between the Commons and the Lords over the Bill, a process known as parliamentary ping-pong, with multiple related divisions recorded in December 2025 showing the two chambers continuing to trade amendments on employment law provisions.
Voting Aye meant
Support rejecting the Lords' whistleblower protection amendment, keeping the current narrower framework that only applies when someone has lost their job
Voting No meant
Support the Lords' amendment to strengthen whistleblower protections, placing duties on employers to follow up on serious concerns about crimes and protecting workers who have not yet lost their jobs
492 voting MPs. Each dot is one vote; left-to-right by party. Grey dots in the centre are the 158 who did not vote.
Aye
No
Absent
Labour PartyWhipped Aye
274
1
87
Conservative and Unionist PartyWhipped No
0
84
32
Liberal DemocratsWhipped No
0
66
6
Labour and Co-operative PartyWhipped Aye
34
0
8
Independent
3
2
8
Scottish National PartyWhipped No
0
8
1
Reform UKWhipped No
0
6
2
Sinn Féin
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
0
2
3
Green Party of England and WalesWhipped No
0
3
1
Plaid CymruWhipped No
0
3
1
Social Democratic and Labour Party
2
0
—
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
0
0
1
Speaker
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
0
1
—
Ulster Unionist Party
0
1
—
Your Party
0
1
—
Government will reject most Lords amendments and proceed with day-one unfair dismissal rights, employer-led guaranteed hours offers, and expanded bereavement leave, striking a balance between worker protection and business flexibility.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (7,412 words) →
The Bill will damage growth and employment; Lords amendments are reasonable and should be accepted, especially on probation periods (6 months instead of day one), zero-hours contract flexibility, and trade union ballot thresholds.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (2,054 words) →
The Bill is landmark legislation delivering on Labour's manifesto; day-one unfair dismissal rights and employer-led guaranteed hours are essential to restore dignity at work and end the race to the bottom.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,898 words) →
Support Bill's aims but concerned about implementation detail left to secondary legislation; favour Lords amendments on guaranteed hours as a right to request (not obligation), 48-hour notice periods, and seasonal work protections.Liberal Democrat · Voted no · Read full speech (2,716 words) →
Challenge Government on business support; claim most small and medium-sized businesses oppose the Bill despite Government assertions.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (54 words) →
Acknowledge some business concerns on probation tribunal involvement and sick pay waiting days; urge continued engagement with chambers of commerce.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (129 words) →
Small businesses fear sickness absence costs will rise dramatically; request assurance that Bill will not overwhelm businesses with additional payroll costs.DUP · Voted no · Read full speech (141 words) →
Welcome most of Bill but urge Government to reconsider Lords amendment 61 on heritage railways to allow youth volunteering safely and legally.Plaid Cymru · Voted no · Read full speech (194 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0