Railways Bill Remaining Stages: New Clause 1

Parliament voted on 10 June 2026 on New Clause 1 to the Railways Bill, a proposal put forward during the bill's remaining stages in the House of Commons. The clause was defeated by 271 votes to 77. The result means the provision contained in New Clause 1 will not be incorporated into the legislation as it proceeds toward Royal Assent. The Railways Bill is the legislative vehicle through which the government is seeking to reshape the structure of the rail network, and this vote determined whether New Clause 1's provisions would form part of that framework. The defeat blocks whatever additional requirement or obligation the clause would have imposed, leaving the bill to proceed in its current form. The practical effect falls on passengers, operators, and the public bodies that will be created or reformed under the legislation. The vote divided sharply along party lines. Every Labour and Labour and Co-operative MP who voted did so against the clause, providing the government's majority. The Liberal Democrats drove the supporting vote, contributing 59 of the 77 ayes, joined by the Greens, Reform UK, Plaid Cymru, and one DUP member, making it a cross-party but ultimately insufficient opposition coalition. The SNP abstained entirely. This division was one of several on the same day: amendments 143 and 148 were also defeated, with larger opposing minorities of 167 and 155 respectively, suggesting the government held its position firmly across a series of contested votes on the bill.