Product Regulation and Metrology Bill [Lords] Report Stage: New Clause 4

What happened: The House of Commons voted on 4 June 2025 on New Clause 4, an opposition amendment to the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill at Report Stage (the stage where MPs debate and vote on proposed changes to a bill before its final reading). The amendment, which sought to add stronger requirements around product standards and regulatory safeguards to the bill, was defeated by 274 votes to 171.

Why it matters: The Product Regulation and Metrology Bill sets the framework for how goods sold in the UK are regulated for safety and accuracy following the country's departure from EU product standards regimes. New Clause 4 would have added additional obligations or protections to this framework, shaping requirements that affect manufacturers, retailers, and consumers across the UK market. Its defeat means the government's original approach to product regulation remains intact, without the additional requirements the opposition sought to introduce.

The politics: The vote divided almost entirely along government-versus-opposition lines. All 273 Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted did so against the amendment, while Conservatives (90), Liberal Democrats (60), Reform UK (8), Greens (4), and several smaller parties all voted in favour. Two Independents voted with the government against the amendment. There were no notable cross-party rebellions within the governing Labour bloc. The result reflects the government's comfortable working majority at this stage of the bill's passage through the Commons.