This List notes opposition day debates in the House of Commons since 2017. Opposition day debates under previous administrations are listed in the spreadsheet which is uploaded as a supporting document. The five tables cover:
Documents to download
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Divisions in the House of Commons (791 KB, PDF)
The main form of voting in the House of Commons is known as a ‘division’. Members vote by walking through either an Aye (yes) or a No lobby. Their names are recorded as they file past the clerks and are then counted by the Tellers. Electronic voting has been considered in the past but not trialled or introduced.
Provisions exist for what must happen if a vote is tied, for the quorum required for a vote, how financial interests must be handled, and how Members may record an abstention. There have also been systems of ‘pairing’, organised between political parties. Since January 2019 there has been the introduction of proxy voting.
This briefing paper describes the current practice and historical development of divisions.
Documents to download
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Divisions in the House of Commons (791 KB, PDF)
Related posts
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On 23 September 2020, the House agreed to make the proxy voting scheme permanent, following the Procedure Committee's review of the pilot scheme. It also extended the proxy arrangements for public health reasons relating to the pandemic.
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The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 creates a five year period between general elections. Early elections may only be held in specified circumstances. The Prime Minister has to make arrangements for a review of the Act between June and November 2020.
