Crime and Policing Bill Report Stage: New Clause 43

What happened: The House of Commons voted on whether to add New Clause 43 to the Crime and Policing Bill during its Report Stage (the stage at which MPs debate and vote on proposed changes to a bill after it has been examined in committee). The clause was defeated by 305 votes to 147. The government opposed the addition, and it did not pass.

Why it matters: New Clause 43 sought to amend the Crime and Policing Bill, a major piece of legislation covering a wide range of policing and criminal justice measures. The clause, backed by opposition parties and some independents, aimed to introduce reforms to policing or criminal justice procedures that the government had not included in its own version of the bill. Its defeat means the bill continues without that provision, and the government retains control over the shape of the legislation as it progresses through Parliament.

The politics: The vote produced a striking cross-party alliance in favour of the clause, with the Liberal Democrats (65 votes), Conservatives (58 votes), Greens (4 votes), Reform UK (5 votes), Plaid Cymru (3 votes), the Democratic Unionist Party (2 votes), and several independents all voting in favour. The government held firm, with Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs providing 304 of the 305 votes against. Only 2 Labour MPs broke with the government to support the clause. The result reflects the arithmetic of the current Parliament, where a substantial opposition alliance can still be outvoted by a Labour majority voting on party lines.