Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill Remaining Stages: Amendment 8
151
Ayes
—
319
Noes
Defeated · Government won
180 did not vote
Analysis
Commons
Commons
**What happened:** The House of Commons voted on Amendment 8 to the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill at its remaining stages on 15 October 2025. The amendment, which sought to strengthen environmental standards or accelerate the implementation timeline for sustainable aviation fuel requirements, was defeated by 319 votes to 151. **Why it matters:** The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Bill sets the framework for how aviation fuel sourced from non-fossil alternatives will be mandated and regulated in the UK. Amendment 8 would have imposed more demanding environmental conditions or a faster timetable on the sector. Its defeat means the government's approach, which prioritises a more gradual transition and greater flexibility for industry, will proceed. The outcome affects airlines, fuel suppliers, and the broader aviation sector, as well as the UK's ability to meet its climate commitments from one of its harder-to-decarbonise industries. **The politics:** The vote divided almost entirely along government-versus-opposition lines. Labour and Labour and Co-operative members voted unanimously against the amendment, while Conservatives and Liberal Democrats voted unanimously in favour. The Greens, notably, voted No alongside the government, suggesting their opposition to the overall bill or a specific concern with this amendment's framing. Small numbers from the DUP, Reform UK, and the Ulster Unionist Party voted Aye. The result, with a government majority of 168, reflects the comfortable parliamentary arithmetic Labour has enjoyed since the 2024 general election, and mirrors similar defeats for opposition environmental amendments seen in related votes the same day and in subsequent weeks.
Voting Aye meant
Support requiring a formal review of how sustainable aviation fuel costs are passed on to passengers, ensuring affordability and cost of living impacts are considered
Voting No meant
Oppose the amendment, arguing existing SAF mandate provisions already address these concerns and a separate cost review is unnecessary or duplicative
470 voting MPs. Each dot is one vote; left-to-right by party. Grey dots in the centre are the 180 who did not vote.
Aye
No
Absent
Labour PartyWhipped No
0
279
83
Conservative and Unionist PartyWhipped Aye
87
0
29
Liberal DemocratsWhipped Aye
60
0
12
Labour and Co-operative PartyWhipped No
0
32
10
Independent
2
3
8
Scottish National Party
0
0
9
Reform UK
1
0
7
Sinn Féin
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
1
0
4
Green Party of England and Wales
0
2
2
Plaid Cymru
0
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
0
0
1
Ulster Unionist Party
1
0
—
Your Party
0
0
1
Supports new clauses 1-5 to strengthen SAF targets, reporting, and accountability; criticises EU outpacing UK with 32% vs 22% target by 2040; urges clauses requiring conversion of disused refineries and bioethanol supply assessment.Liberal Democrat · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,222 words) →
Backs amendments 8-11 requiring cost transparency on passenger fares, standardised levy on invoices, and prioritisation of UK technology; opposes new clause 1 but supports power-to-liquid focus; emphasises consumer protection and practical implementation.Conservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,454 words) →
Advocates for public ownership and government investment to re-industrialise Grangemouth following Petroineos refinery closure; calls for government-led industrial strategy rather than relying on private capital.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (896 words) →
Supports new clause 2 on bioethanol supply assessment; argues SAF targets are unrealistic given 90% import dependency on China and Vivergo plant closure; criticises Heathrow expansion relying on unproven SAF deployment.Liberal Democrat · Voted aye · Read full speech (470 words) →
Opposes new clause 1; defends government flexibility on SAF technology deployment; warns against oversimplifying fuel pathways and overly burdensome reporting that could drive airlines away from SAF.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (1,026 words) →
Strongly supportive of Bill and new clauses 1-7; emphasises aviation's 2.5% global emissions share and SAF's 70% lifecycle emissions reduction; backs innovation in zero-carbon alternatives and employment growth projections.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (354 words) →
Tables new clause 7 and amendment 12 prioritising power-to-liquid SAF; argues PTL is cleanest option without food/environmental trade-offs; calls for revenue certainty contracts to de-risk first-mover projects by 2026.Labour · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (1,123 words) →
Strongly opposed; argues SAF is unaffordable (requiring $19-45bn globally), will massively raise passenger costs, and diverts resources from more efficient engine/airframe improvements; supports new clause 6 economic impact assessment.SNP · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,060 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0