Employment Rights Bill Report Stage: New Clause 110

What happened: On 12 March 2025, the House of Commons voted on New Clause 110 during the Report Stage of the Employment Rights Bill. The clause, tabled by Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper, sought to add additional worker protections beyond those already contained in the government's bill. The motion was defeated by 314 votes to 168.

Why it matters: The Employment Rights Bill is a wide-ranging piece of legislation reforming employment law in Great Britain, covering areas including statutory sick pay, zero-hours contracts, parental leave, and trade union rights. New Clause 110 would have extended the bill's protections further, but the government opposed the amendment, meaning the bill proceeds without it. The vote reflects ongoing debate about how far employment legislation should go in protecting workers, and at what cost to employers and economic growth.

The politics: Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs voted unanimously against the new clause, in line with the government's position. Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and the Democratic Unionist Party all voted in favour, representing an unusual cross-party alignment. The Greens voted against alongside Labour. The debate was coloured by sharp exchanges over trade union funding, business regulation, and the economic impact of the bill, with Conservatives arguing the legislation stifles growth and Labour MPs defending the reforms as long-overdue protections for working people.