Committee publication · Report · 21 July 2025 · HC 489
2nd Report - Proxy voting: Review of arrangements introduced in Session 2024-25
From: Procedure Committee
Inquiry: Proxy Voting: Review of arrangements introduced in the 2024–25 Session
Government response deadline: 21 September 2025
Summary
The Procedure Committee reviewed proxy voting arrangements introduced in the 2024-25 parliamentary session. The scheme allows MPs absent due to pregnancy, fertility treatment, childbirth, or serious long-term illness/injury to vote by proxy. The committee found the fertility and pregnancy arrangements adequate and recommends they remain permanent. For illness/injury, it recommends extending temporary arrangements through the current Parliament but not yet making them permanent, pending further evidence and related inquiries by other committees.
Key findings
- The scheme has evolved beyond its original 2019 purpose for parental absence to now include fertility complications and serious long-term illness/injury, requiring restatement of foundational principles.
- Proxy voting should remain predicated on absence from the Parliamentary Estate, with strengthened enforcement; however, exceptions exist for medically-recommended recovery and 'keeping in touch' days during parental leave.
- New arrangements for pregnancy complications and extended absence for fertility treatment (introduced November 2024) have complemented existing provisions and proved adequate; insufficient evidence exists to extend further.
- Arrangements for serious long-term illness/injury are working well in practice; committee recommends extension through current Parliament but stops short of making permanent due to operational issues requiring prior resolution.
- Informal mechanisms (slipping, pairing, nodding through) should be strengthened and promoted alongside formal proxy voting; smaller parties report difficulties accessing pairing and concerns about 'nodding through' effectiveness.
Recommendations
- Strengthen the principle that absence from the Estate should underpin proxy voting eligibility and enforce this expectation more consistently.
- Caution Members against behaviour that could be construed as abusing the scheme or damaging its credibility and public confidence.
- All parties should reaffirm commitment to informal mechanisms complementing proxy voting and increase awareness among Members, particularly new Members, of slipping and nodding through alternatives.
- Arrangements for pregnancy complications and extended absence for fertility treatment should remain in force on a permanent basis; rules should continue to evolve organically on a reactive basis as required.
- Extend proxy voting for serious long-term illness and injury at least until the end of the present Parliament, but do not make permanent at this time.
- Conduct a further review of proxy voting arrangements later in Parliament once more evidence is available from Members and after the Modernisation Committee's 'Access to the House of Commons and its Procedures' inquiry and the Administration Committee's 'Health and wellbeing' inquiry have concluded.
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Cat Smith, Procedure Committee, Leader of the House of Commons, Speaker of the House of Commons, Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service, Government Chief Whip, Opposition Chief Whip, SNP Chief Whip
Notable line
“… access to proxy voting is a privilege and it is incumbent on all Members to ensure they do not act in a way that may lead to accusations that the system is open to, or actively being, abused …”
Key Quotes
“"We believe this is an opportunity to make a progressive change to the procedures of the House, with the aim of ensuring that those who require extended leave for 9 Scheme on proxy voting for use under para (4) of Resolution of 28 January 2019 10 HC Deb, 28 January 2019 …”
“… there is a strong link in principle between absence from the Estate and proxy voting, with the expectation that Members holding a proxy vote should not be on the Estate to participate in other parliamentary business”
“"I think the current arrangements and guidance are working in practice and are clear enough to enable members to access a proxy vote if they have a serious illness or long-term injury".”
“"Our experience of using the service in these cases, thankfully infrequently, has been straightforward".”
“"It may be helpful to ensure that more consistency is applied in information that is requested from Members".”
“"Members should not apply for or retain a proxy vote if they intend to or become able to attend the Estate on a regular basis".”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗