Number of divisions in the House of Commons since 1945

Not every motion before the House is subject to a division; if the House is in agreement, there is no need to vote. To test the opinion of the House, the Speaker will ask Members who agree with the motion to call out ‘aye’ and those against ‘no’. If there is no clear majority, the Speaker will call for a division by announcing, ‘division, clear the lobbies’. MPs then vote on the topic by walking through the Aye or No lobbies, where they are counted by the tellers and their names are recorded.  

Four Members are appointed as tellers by the Speaker: two representing those voting for the motion and two representing those voting against. Two tellers (one from each side) are present in each division lobby to ensure a fair count. A Member cannot act as a teller on a question for their own suspension. If two tellers cannot be found for either side, the division is called off and the Speaker  announces the decision of the House. For example, if there are no tellers, or only one teller, for the ayes, the Speaker declares, ’The noes have it’. 

If fewer than 40 Members, including the Speaker and the tellers, participate in a division, it shows that the House does not have the necessary quorum of the House. The House then moves on to the next business. The subject of the division is postponed to another day.  

Deferred divisions 

MPs can vote on a series of motions using ballot papers at a convenient time (currently from 12.30pm on Wednesdays) instead of holding divisions immediately at the end of a debate. These are known as deferred divisions.  

Deferred divisions were first held in the 2000-01 session, following a report from the Modernisation Committee. Introduced as a sessional order, the order was added to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons in 2004. 

Deferred divisions can be used with motions on statutory instruments and on certain types of motion which are not subject to amendment, proceedings on Bills are excluded. 

Questions to be decided by deferred divisions are listed on a pink ballot paper in Wednesday’s Vote Bundle. Members may vote in the No Lobby at any time from 12.30 to 2pm (with extra time if such voting is interrupted by ordinary divisions). The division clerks take their places as for a division in the House and mark members as having voted and take their ballot papers. The result is then announced in the House. 

The Division List 

The Division List records the way in which Members have voted and is usually available to the public soon after the event in Hansard and Votes in Parliament. 

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