Crime and Policing Bill Report Stage: New Clause 7

What happened: On 18 June 2025, the House of Commons voted on New Clause 7, a proposed addition to the Crime and Policing Bill during its Report Stage (the stage at which the full House scrutinises and amends a bill after committee). The clause was defeated heavily, with 102 voting in favour and 390 voting against.

Why it matters: The vote concerned a proposed change to the Crime and Policing Bill, a significant piece of legislation shaping policing powers and criminal justice in England and Wales. New Clause 7 represented an alternative approach to elements of the bill, broadly associated with police reform and civil liberties considerations. Its defeat means the government's version of the bill proceeds without this addition, preserving the existing framework the government has drafted around law and order policy.

The politics: The division fell largely along party lines, with Conservatives (91 votes) and Reform UK (7 votes) forming the core of the 102 Ayes, along with a small number of independents and the Democratic Unionist Party. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and all other parties voted No, reflecting a cross-opposition alliance behind the government. There were no Labour or Liberal Democrat rebels. The result, with the government's position defeating the amendment by a margin of nearly four to one, illustrates the current government's commanding Commons majority and its ability to resist opposition amendments at Report Stage.