Employment Rights Bill: Motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1
326Ayes
160Noes
Carried · majority 166 · Government won157 did not vote
643 Members · Aye 326 · No 160 · DNV 157 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament voted on 15 September 2025 to reject Lords Amendment 1 to the Employment Rights Bill, preserving the Bill's original requirement that employers proactively offer zero and low-hours workers a guaranteed-hours contract. The motion to disagree with the Lords amendment passed by 326 votes to 160. The practical effect is to maintain the employer duty to offer fixed-hours contracts to zero and low-hours workers after a defined reference period, rather than replacing that duty with a worker's right to request such a contract. The distinction matters: under the Bill's original provision, the obligation sits with the employer; under the Lords amendment, the worker would have had to initiate the process. The vote keeps the stronger statutory guarantee for workers in sectors such as retail and hospitality, where zero-hours arrangements are common. Party lines held almost completely. All 308 Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs present voted aye, joined by the Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, the Greens, and most voting independents. The 85 Conservatives, 66 Liberal Democrats, 7 Reform UK members, and 2 Democratic Unionist Party members present all voted no. There were no recorded cross-party rebellions on either side.
Voting Aye meant
Support rejecting the Lords amendment and keeping the Bill's original provision requiring employers to proactively offer guaranteed-hours contracts to zero and low-hours workers, rather than merely allowing workers to request them.
Voting No meant
Prefer the Lords amendment, which would replace the employer duty to offer guaranteed hours with a worker's right to request a fixed-hours contract — seen as striking a better balance between worker security and employer flexibility, particularly for small businesses in hospitality and retail.
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
275
0
86
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
85
31
Liberal Democrats
Whipped No
0
65
6
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped Aye
33
0
9
Independent
—
3
2
8
Scottish National Party
Whipped Aye
8
0
1
Reform UK
Whipped No
0
7
1
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
—
0
2
3
Green Party of England and Wales
Whipped Aye
3
0
1
Plaid Cymru
Whipped Aye
3
0
1
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
2
0
0
Your Party
—
2
0
0
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
—
0
0
1
Restore Britain
—
0
0
1
Speaker
—
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
—
0
1
0
Ulster Unionist Party
—
1
0
0
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
Government will reject most Lords amendments and proceed with day-one unfair dismissal rights, employer-led guaranteed hours offers, and expanded bereavement leave, striking a balance between worker protection and business flexibility.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (7,412 words) →
The Bill will damage growth and employment; Lords amendments are reasonable and should be accepted, especially on probation periods (6 months instead of day one), zero-hours contract flexibility, and trade union ballot thresholds.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (2,054 words) →
The Bill is landmark legislation delivering on Labour's manifesto; day-one unfair dismissal rights and employer-led guaranteed hours are essential to restore dignity at work and end the race to the bottom.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,898 words) →
Support Bill's aims but concerned about implementation detail left to secondary legislation; favour Lords amendments on guaranteed hours as a right to request (not obligation), 48-hour notice periods, and seasonal work protections.Liberal Democrat · Voted no · Read full speech (2,716 words) →
Challenge Government on business support; claim most small and medium-sized businesses oppose the Bill despite Government assertions.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (54 words) →
Acknowledge some business concerns on probation tribunal involvement and sick pay waiting days; urge continued engagement with chambers of commerce.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (129 words) →
Small businesses fear sickness absence costs will rise dramatically; request assurance that Bill will not overwhelm businesses with additional payroll costs.DUP · Voted no · Read full speech (141 words) →
Welcome most of Bill but urge Government to reconsider Lords amendment 61 on heritage railways to allow youth volunteering safely and legally.Plaid Cymru · Voted aye · Read full speech (194 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0