Employment Rights Bill Report Stage: New Clause 30

Parliament voted on 11 March 2025 on New Clause 30 to the Employment Rights Bill, which would have given special constables the right to take unpaid time off work to carry out their volunteer policing duties. The clause aimed to bring special constables into line with other public service volunteers, such as magistrates and councillors, who already enjoy this entitlement under section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. The motion was defeated by 324 votes to 189. The practical effect of New Clause 30 would have been to require employers to permit special constables to take unpaid leave when needed for their policing duties, without fear of dismissal or detriment. Supporters argued this would help recruit and retain special constables, who serve at no cost to the taxpayer and have done so in various forms since 1831. Opponents did not make detailed arguments against the clause in the available record; the government's position was to oppose it, and Labour MPs voted accordingly. The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. All 321 Labour and Labour Co-operative MPs who voted did so against the clause. The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Plaid Cymru, Greens, Reform UK, and the Democratic Unionist Party all voted in favour, forming a cross-party bloc of 189. The new clause was tabled by Sir Ashley Fox, Conservative MP for Bridgwater, and backed by Nick Timothy among others. It was one of many opposition amendments debated during the Report Stage of a bill that has attracted sustained criticism from the Conservatives for the pace of its drafting and scrutiny.