Armed Forces Bill Committee: New Clause 13

Parliament voted on 2 June 2026 on New Clause 13 to the Armed Forces Bill, which would have required an independent review into the standard of single living accommodation for service personnel. The clause was defeated by 298 votes to 80. The practical effect of the clause would have been to mandate external scrutiny of housing conditions for serving personnel who live in single living accommodation rather than service family homes. Proponents argued that single living accommodation is, for many personnel, not a temporary arrangement but a permanent home throughout their career, and that its condition directly affects both welfare and retention. The government opposed the clause, with Labour MPs pointing to the new defence housing service being established through the Bill as the appropriate vehicle for improving standards. Labour MPs voted unanimously against the clause, providing the bulk of the 298 noes. The Liberal Democrats were the principal force behind it, contributing 58 of the 80 aye votes. The Democratic Unionist Party, the Green Party, Plaid Cymru, Reform UK, and several smaller parties and independents also voted in favour. The clause sits alongside a series of related defeats for opposition amendments on the same day, including New Clauses 2, 5 and 6, all of which were also defeated by comparable margins. The Liberal Democrats and their allies were unable to overcome the government's substantial Commons majority.