Employment Rights Bill Report Stage: New Clause 87

What happened: The House of Commons voted on New Clause 87, an opposition amendment to the Employment Rights Bill at Report Stage, on 11 March 2025. The amendment was defeated by 340 votes to 106. The Employment Rights Bill itself, a flagship piece of government legislation, continued its parliamentary passage with the government's own provisions intact.

Why it matters: The Employment Rights Bill is one of the largest overhauls of workplace law in decades, covering zero-hours contracts, fire and rehire practices, unfair dismissal protections, flexible working rights, statutory sick pay, trade union rights, and protections for pregnant workers and new mothers. New Clause 87 was one of numerous opposition amendments tabled during Report Stage, seeking to alter or add to the government's proposals. Its defeat means the government's version of these provisions proceeds unamended by this particular clause, affecting millions of workers and employers across the country.

The politics: The vote divided sharply along party lines. All 325 Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted did so against the amendment, with no rebels recorded. The 106 supporting votes came primarily from Conservative MPs (94), joined by Reform UK (6), the Democratic Unionist Party (3), the Traditional Unionist Voice (1), and a handful of independents (3). The Greens, Plaid Cymru, and the SDLP voted with the government against the amendment. The debate reflected a wider political battle, with Conservatives framing the Bill as damaging to businesses and small employers, while Labour MPs and their allies described it as a historic advance for working people.