Great British Energy Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading

What happened: On 5 September 2024, MPs voted on a Conservative reasoned amendment (a formal motion to reject a bill at Second Reading, the stage where its general principles are debated) to the Great British Energy Bill. The amendment sought to block the bill from proceeding. It was defeated by 348 votes to 94, allowing the bill to advance to its next parliamentary stage.

Why it matters: The Great British Energy Bill would create a new publicly-owned company to invest in clean energy projects across the United Kingdom. Defeating the amendment clears the way for that company to be established, with the government arguing it will reduce energy bills, increase energy security, and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. Had the amendment passed, the bill would have been killed at an early stage, preventing the creation of the public body altogether.

The politics: The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. All 93 Conservative MPs who voted supported the amendment, while all voting Labour, Labour and Co-operative, Green, and most other opposition MPs voted against it. A single Reform UK MP and one DUP MP also backed the amendment. The Conservatives argued the bill represented unnecessary state intervention in the energy market. The result reflects the government's substantial Commons majority, which it deployed comfortably to see off the challenge.