Budget Resolution No. 44: Rates of alcohol duty
371Ayes
77Noes
Carried · majority 294 · Government won200 did not vote
648 Members · Aye 371 · No 77 · DNV 200 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament approved Budget Resolution No. 44 on 6 November 2024, setting the rates of alcohol duty as proposed by the Chancellor in the Autumn 2024 Budget. The resolution passed by 371 votes to 77. It is a formal parliamentary step that gives legal effect to the government's planned alcohol duty structure. The resolution determines how much tax is levied on alcoholic drinks sold in the United Kingdom. Approving it advances the duty rates proposed in the Autumn Budget, affecting producers, retailers, and the hospitality and drinks industries, as well as the price consumers pay for alcohol. Labour MPs voted unanimously in favour, joined by Labour and Co-operative MPs, most of the Greens, and a handful of independents. The Liberal Democrats voted against as a bloc, with 59 of their MPs in the no lobby, joined by all 9 SNP MPs present, 7 Conservatives, and 1 DUP member. The Conservatives had 109 members with no vote recorded. The vote sits within a wider pattern of the new Labour government pushing through Budget measures, with other related divisions on business rates and national insurance contributions following a similar government-wins-comfortably shape.
Voting Aye meant
Support the government's proposed alcohol duty rates as part of the 2024 Budget
Voting No meant
Oppose the government's proposed alcohol duty rates, likely arguing they are too high, poorly structured, or harmful to the hospitality or drinks industry
Each row is one party. The stacked bar gives the within-party split of Aye / No / Absent; the columns on the right give the raw counts. The whip column shows the published party position — “Free vote” means the whip was formally removed for this division.
Party
Whip
Aye / No / Abs
Aye
No
Abs
Labour Party
Whipped Aye
326
0
35
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
7
109
Liberal Democrats
Whipped No
0
59
12
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped Aye
35
0
7
Independent
—
3
2
9
Scottish National Party
Whipped No
0
9
0
Reform UK
—
0
0
7
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
—
0
1
4
Green Party of England and Wales
Whipped Aye
4
0
0
Plaid Cymru
—
0
0
4
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
1
0
1
Your Party
—
1
0
1
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
—
0
0
1
Restore Britain
—
0
0
1
Speaker
—
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
—
0
0
1
Ulster Unionist Party
—
0
1
0
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
Defence spending must reach 3% of GDP or minimum £28 billion immediately; DIP delay is chaos; Defence Secretary and Armed Forces Minister resignations prove Labour prioritises welfare over defence; calls on government to cut welfare to fund defence.Conservative · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (4,996 words) →
Government has delivered biggest defence uplift since Cold War, raised recruitment and retention, signed 1,400 contracts; DIP will be published before NATO summit; previous Conservative governments hollowed out armed forces; Labour is rebuilding capability.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,204 words) →
Defence investment plan must be published urgently; spending should reach 3% by 2030; £20 billion defence bonds would unlock investment; Britain must lead European defence; Northern Ireland Troubles Bill should be scrapped as incompatible with human rights.Liberal Democrat · Voted no · Read full speech (2,741 words) →
UK is in conflict with Russia and is frontline nation; defence debate must focus on capability not just spending numbers; Government has awarded major contracts and improved pay; Russian cyber and hybrid threats are real and present.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,931 words) →
Risk has been passed between Governments since Cold War and has crystallised; Britain came 31st of 32 NATO members on rearmament; procurement reform urgent; Ukraine model shows five-day requirement-to-delivery possible.Conservative · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (2,691 words) →
Prime Minister offered only 0.08% GDP increase (£10 billion real terms) for Defence Investment Plan, which prompted Defence Secretary resignation; grossly inadequate for national security.Conservative · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (79 words) →
Uncertainty created by potential new Prime Minister with unknown defence priorities damages defence industry and dual-use companies; need far more certainty on defence policy.Conservative · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (114 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0