Sentencing Bill: Second Reading

What happened: The House of Commons voted on 16 September 2025 to approve the Sentencing Bill at its Second Reading, the stage at which MPs debate and vote on a bill's general principles before detailed scrutiny begins. The bill passed by 340 votes to 77, a majority of 263.

Why it matters: The Sentencing Bill proposes reforms to criminal sentencing laws and penalties in England and Wales. A successful Second Reading means the bill's broad aims were accepted by the Commons, allowing it to proceed to detailed committee examination. The vote signals parliamentary approval in principle for changes to how courts sentence offenders, with practical consequences for the prison system, the judiciary, and those convicted of criminal offences.

The politics: The vote divided largely along government and opposition lines. Labour and Labour Co-operative MPs voted unanimously in favour, as did the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, producing the 340-strong majority. The Conservatives provided the bulk of the opposition, with 72 MPs voting against, joined by 4 Reform UK members and 1 Democratic Unionist Party MP. There were no Labour rebels. The bill went on to face a more contested passage: Report Stage votes in October 2025 saw the government defeat several proposed new clauses, and the bill passed its Third Reading on 29 October 2025 by 321 votes to 103, indicating some additional opposition had accumulated by that later stage.