Closure motion
12Ayes
50Noes
Defeated · majority 38 · Government won583 did not vote
645 Members · Aye 12 · No 50 · DNV 583 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
On 25 April 2025, MPs voted on a closure motion, which is a procedural device that cuts off debate and forces an immediate vote on whatever is being discussed. The motion was defeated by 50 votes to 12. Closure motions require at least 100 MPs to vote in favour before the Speaker will allow them to pass, so this one failed both on the numbers threshold and on the balance of the vote itself. The closure motion is a parliamentary tool for managing time; when it succeeds, debate ends and MPs proceed directly to a division on the substantive question before them. Its defeat here meant that debate continued rather than being brought to a close. Because the data provided does not specify which underlying matter was being debated when the closure motion was put, the precise policy subject the motion sought to curtail is not clear from the available record. What is clear is that a majority of those who voted preferred further discussion over an immediate vote. The party split was unusual. Labour MPs voted 44 to nil against the closure motion, with the vast majority of the parliamentary party, 317 members, having no vote recorded. The Scottish National Party voted 9 to nil in favour of ending debate. Three Conservative MPs voted aye, while no Conservative voted no. One Green MP voted aye. The combination of a small SNP push to close debate and a larger Labour bloc resisting it produced the lopsided result, with the no side carrying the day comfortably.
Voting Aye meant
Support ending the current debate and moving to a vote immediately
Voting No meant
Oppose cutting off debate, preferring further parliamentary discussion
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 No
0
44
317
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped Aye
3
0
113
Liberal Democrats
—
0
0
71
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped No
0
7
35
Independent
—
1
1
11
Scottish National Party
Whipped Aye
9
0
0
Reform UK
—
0
0
7
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
—
0
0
5
Green Party of England and Wales
—
1
0
3
Plaid Cymru
—
0
0
4
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
0
0
2
Your Party
—
0
0
2
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
0
1
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
Supports devolution of immigration to Scotland to address distinct demographic needs, citing sectoral demands from care, tourism, and agriculture; frames as responsive to Scottish Labour's own manifesto commitments.SNP · Voted aye · Read full speech (8,655 words) →
Opposes the Bill; stresses it would devolve entire immigration system without mechanism, argues government offers alternatives such as Migration Advisory Committee reform and sector-specific visa schemes.Labour (Scottish Secretary of State) · Voted no · Read full speech (11,536 words) →
Strongly supportive; emphasises Scotland's population decline, ageing demographics, and emigration tradition; frames Bill as invitation to work together on solutions; criticises Labour for pandering to Reform on immigration.SNP · Voted aye · Read full speech (6,264 words) →
Opposed; questions practical implementation, cost, and border management; draws parallels to Isle of Wight's challenges; argues Bill lacks clarity on how separate Scottish system would integrate with UK framework.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (2,279 words) →
Challenges Gethins on SNP's record on economic growth; questions why devolution is needed when Scottish Government has underperformed on existing powers.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (373 words) →
Opposed; accuses SNP of 'gaming' Brexit debate; defends Labour's pragmatic approach to EU relations; questions focus on devolution over addressing root workforce problems.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (1,400 words) →
Neutral-questioning; acknowledges value of youth mobility and practical steps on EU relations but distances Labour from SNP independence rhetoric; defends capped youth scheme.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (271 words) →
Supportive; represents island constituency; emphasises one-size-fits-all approach fails rural and island communities with distinct labour needs.SNP · Voted no · Read full speech →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0