Opposition day: Hospitality sector
158Ayes
334Noes
Defeated · majority 176 · Government won156 did not vote
648 Members · Aye 158 · No 334 · DNV 156 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
The House of Commons voted on 3 September 2025 on an opposition day motion calling on the government to take specific action to support the hospitality sector. The motion was defeated by 334 votes to 158. Opposition day motions are brought forward by parties other than the government, giving them the opportunity to set the agenda and put ministers on the political back foot, though such motions do not normally change the law even if passed. The hospitality sector, which includes pubs, restaurants, hotels and cafes, has faced sustained financial pressure in recent years from rising energy costs, wage increases and changes to business rates. The motion called for targeted government intervention, likely including tax relief or direct financial support, to help businesses in this sector survive and protect employment. By defeating the motion, the government has signalled that it does not intend to depart from its existing economic approach to offer specific relief to hospitality businesses, leaving operators to manage within the current fiscal framework. The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. All 297 Labour MPs and 34 Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted went into the No lobby, while all 92 voting Conservatives, all 63 voting Liberal Democrats, 2 Reform UK MPs and 1 DUP MP voted Aye. There were no notable rebels on either side. The alignment of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in the Aye lobby reflects a cross-opposition consensus on the need for targeted hospitality support, despite those two parties often disagreeing on economic matters. The vote sits in a broader context of parliamentary scrutiny of the government's economic choices, with a series of budget resolutions passed in December 2025 covering alcohol duty, income tax and other measures that affect hospitality businesses and their customers.
Voting Aye meant
Support the opposition's call for government action to help the hospitality sector, likely addressing concerns such as rising costs, business rates, or labour cost increases
Voting No meant
Reject the opposition's motion on the hospitality sector, defending the government's existing approach to supporting hospitality businesses
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
297
64
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped Aye
92
0
24
Liberal Democrats
Whipped Aye
63
0
9
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped No
0
34
8
Independent
—
1
3
9
Scottish National Party
—
0
0
9
Reform UK
—
2
0
6
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
—
1
0
4
Green Party of England and Wales
—
0
0
4
Plaid Cymru
—
0
0
4
Social Democratic and Labour 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
Your Party
—
0
0
1
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
Labour's policies—national insurance increase, reduced business rates relief, Employment Rights Bill—are catastrophically damaging hospitality, destroying jobs and opportunities particularly for young and part-time workers.Conservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,719 words) →
Government has made necessary difficult decisions to stabilise public finances; Employment Rights Bill protects workers; business rates relief of 40% is better than the zero relief Conservatives left; rising business confidence shows strategy is working.Labour · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (4,197 words) →
Both governments have damaged the sector; Labour's jobs tax is unjust and Liberal Democrats oppose it; business rates reform is overdue; hospitality needs exemptions from national insurance, youth mobility schemes, and energy cost support.Liberal Democrat · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,086 words) →
Government's jobs tax, business rates cut, and Employment Rights Bill are collectively costing nearly 90,000 jobs and making it impossible for hospitality firms to hire or invest.Conservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (926 words) →
Conservatives left hospitality in crisis after 14 years; Labour is fixing public finances and introducing targeted support including business rates reform and red tape cuts; small business strategy is comprehensive.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (847 words) →
Hospitality is the lifeblood of communities; sector needs urgent relief on VAT, national insurance, and business rates; Government should prioritise this in Budget rather than claims of public service investment.Conservative · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,235 words) →
Coastal communities rely on hospitality; Labour is investing in NHS and public services which will drive growth; Government support and business rates proposals will help the sector recover.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (1,521 words) →
Business confidence is at highest level since 2015; firms plan to increase headcount; Conservatives talking down economy; Labour's approach to wages and stable growth will benefit hospitality long-term.Labour · Voted no · Read full speech (946 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0