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
On 3 September 2025, the House of Commons voted on an opposition day motion brought by the Conservatives concerning the hospitality sector. The motion was defeated by 334 votes to 158. Opposition day motions are debating tools given to the main opposition party; they do not change the law, but they allow the opposition to put the government on record over a chosen policy area. The vote reflects a dispute over how the government is handling cost pressures on pubs, restaurants, and hotels. The Conservatives used their allotted parliamentary time to argue that the sector faces serious difficulties and that the government's approach is inadequate. A defeat on such a motion does not block any specific legislation, but it signals that the Commons majority will not endorse the opposition's framing of the problem or the remedies it implies. Every Labour and Labour and Co-operative MP who voted backed the government, with 297 and 34 noes respectively and no ayes on either side. All 92 voting Conservatives backed the motion, as did all 63 voting Liberal Democrats, making this a rare moment of opposition unity. Two Reform UK MPs and one DUP MP also voted aye. No cross-party defections from the government side were recorded.
Voting Aye meant
Support the opposition's position on hospitality sector policy, backing measures to help pubs, restaurants, and hotels facing cost pressures
Voting No meant
Reject the opposition's framing of hospitality sector challenges, defending the government's existing approach to business support and taxation
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
62
0
9
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped No
0
34
8
Independent
—
2
3
8
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
Your 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
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