Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill: Second Reading
336Ayes
175Noes
Carried · majority 161 · Government won138 did not vote
649 Members · Aye 336 · No 175 · DNV 138 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament voted on 25 November 2024 to give a second reading (the first major parliamentary vote on a bill's general principles) to the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill. The bill would remove the business rates relief that private schools currently receive by virtue of their charitable status, requiring them to pay the same property taxes as other businesses. The vote passed by 336 ayes to 175 noes. The practical effect of this bill, if it becomes law, is that private schools in England would lose the mandatory 80 per cent relief on business rates (a property tax on non-residential premises) that they have historically received as registered charities. The government has stated that the revenue raised would be used to fund improvements in state education, including hiring additional teachers. The change would increase operating costs for private schools, potentially leading some to raise fees and others to face financial pressure. The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. All 326 Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted supported the bill, while Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, the DUP, and the Ulster Unionist Party all voted against. The Green Party's four voting MPs supported the measure, and four Independents also voted in favour while seven voted against. The bill subsequently passed its report stage in January 2025, with opposition amendments defeated by similar margins, suggesting the government faced no significant internal rebellion and retained firm control of the legislation.
Voting Aye meant
Support reforming business rates and removing private schools' business rates relief, backing the government's approach to raise revenue and level the playing field between state and independent schools
Voting No meant
Oppose removing private schools' business rates exemption and the business rates changes, raising concerns about cumulative tax burdens on businesses alongside national insurance rises and other costs
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
291
0
70
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
97
19
Liberal Democrats
Whipped No
0
63
9
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped Aye
34
0
8
Independent
—
5
6
3
Scottish National Party
—
0
0
9
Reform UK
Whipped No
0
5
2
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
—
0
2
3
Green Party of England and Wales
Whipped Aye
4
0
0
Plaid Cymru
—
0
0
4
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
0
0
2
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
—
0
0
1
Restore Britain
—
0
1
0
Speaker
—
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
—
0
1
0
Ulster Unionist Party
—
0
1
0
Your Party
—
1
0
0
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
Bill delivers permanent tax cuts for high streets, extends temporary relief to 40%, and funds £2.3bn schools investment by removing private school tax breaks; includes safeguards for SEND provision.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (3,910 words) →
Bill is a stealth tax on business breaking manifesto promises; cuts relief from 75% to 40%, imposes £925m rise in rates, and the private school measures will drive 90,000 pupils into already under-capacity state schools.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (2,846 words) →
Bill is inadequate tinkering rather than fundamental business rates reform; removes temporary relief cliff-edge but creates new problems; taxing education in principle is wrong; lacks impact assessment and may inadvertently subsidise big chains.Liberal Democrat · Voted no · Read full speech (1,754 words) →
Bill essential to fund state education after decade of austerity; removes unfair tax breaks allowing wealthy families advantage; supports high-needs SEND funding uplift of £1bn.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,781 words) →
Business rates particularly problematic due to fixed-cost nature; Bill fails to distinguish online from traditional retail; total revenue raised will increase not stay same; will cause displacement into state schools creating local strain.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (1,987 words) →
Supports permanent high-street rate cuts and ending private school tax breaks; but urges safeguards for smaller faith and independent schools charging £3k fees that serve deprived communities.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,545 words) →
As former teacher, supports removing private school tax exemptions; state schools lack basic supplies while private schools enjoy advantages; £1.5bn will transform state education.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (810 words) →
Cumulative impact of NI rises, Employment Rights Bill, and business rates cuts will devastate small businesses; demands Government publish impact assessments and statistics on pupils moving to state sector.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (327 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0