English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: Second Reading
365Ayes
164Noes
Carried · majority 201 · Government won119 did not vote
648 Members · Aye 365 · No 164 · DNV 119 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament voted on 2 September 2025 to give the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill its Second Reading, approving the bill in principle by 365 votes to 164. A Second Reading is the first substantive parliamentary vote on a bill, approving it in principle and allowing it to proceed to detailed scrutiny in committee. The result meant the bill passed comfortably. The bill proposes a significant restructuring of how power is distributed across England. It would create a standardised framework of regional strategic authorities at three levels, give ministers the power to direct the creation of those authorities without local consent where agreement cannot be reached, require all English councils to adopt cabinet-style governance, restore the supplementary vote system for mayoral elections, create community rights to buy local assets including sports stadiums, and establish a new Local Audit Office. Supporters argued the bill addresses England's status as one of the most centralised developed countries in the world, while opponents raised concerns about accountability and the imposition of governance structures without local consent. All 323 Labour MPs and all 37 Labour and Co-operative MPs voting supported the bill, giving the government a solid majority. The Conservatives, with 88 votes against, and the Liberal Democrats, with 71 votes against, both opposed the bill at this stage. Five independents voted in favour and one against. Reform UK's two voting members opposed it. No Conservative, Liberal Democrat, or Reform MP voted in favour.
Voting Aye meant
Support devolving more power to English regions and mayors, reducing Whitehall centralisation, and giving communities greater control over local assets and decisions.
Voting No meant
Oppose the bill's approach to devolution, raising concerns about accountability, the imposition of mayors and governance structures without local consent, and the pace or design of reform.
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 Aye
323
0
38
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
88
28
Liberal Democrats
Whipped No
0
70
1
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped Aye
37
0
5
Independent
—
5
2
6
Scottish National Party
—
0
0
9
Reform UK
—
0
2
6
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
—
0
0
5
Green Party of England and Wales
—
0
0
4
Plaid Cymru
—
0
0
4
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
0
0
2
Your Party
—
0
0
2
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
—
0
1
0
Restore Britain
—
0
0
1
Speaker
—
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
—
0
1
0
Ulster Unionist Party
—
0
1
0
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
Bill delivers biggest transfer of power in a generation, ending begging-bowl culture, empowering mayors with planning/housing/transport powers, and strengthening communities through neighbourhood governance and asset protection.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (3,851 words) →
Bill is centralisation disguised as devolution, imposing restructuring without consent, raising taxes through mayoral precepts, weakening councils, and failing five tests: genuine choice, consensus, public support, bill control, and social care protection.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (2,471 words) →
Devolution principle supported but Bill centralises control, leaves areas unequally treated, weakens local accountability through appointed commissioners, and misses opportunity for genuine community empowerment or proportional representation.Liberal Democrat · Voted no · Read full speech (2,306 words) →
Questions where accountability and scrutiny will come from and how local people's voices will truly be heard under the mayor-led model.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (1,264 words) →
Points to Scotland as cautionary tale of centralised powers taken away from communities; warns against replicating that mistake south of the border.SNP · Voted no · Read full speech (82 words) →
Generally supportive of devolution ambition but seeks protection for Sheffield's existing committee governance system, which was chosen by local referendum and should be respected.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (676 words) →
Mayor-led devolution is inappropriate for diverse areas like Devon; reorganisation costs money without saving it; parish councils and national park authorities are overlooked; statutory duty to cooperate needed.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (900 words) →
London lacks sufficient accountability for its devolved powers; Assembly's two-thirds majority requirement needs abolition; boroughs should have voice in decision-making; Mayor Khan's ULEZ and tax increases show need for stronger scrutiny.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (711 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0