To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) discussions has his Department had with, and (b) representations has his Department received from, Labour Together / Think Labour in relation to its proposals for compulsory voting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) discussions has his Department had with, and (b) representations has his Department received from, Labour Together / Think Labour in relation to its proposals for compulsory voting.

This briefing sets out results of the by-elections held in the 2024 Parliament, including lists of candidates, vote share and voter turnout.

This briefing sets out results of the by-elections held in the 2024 Parliament, including lists of candidates, vote share and voter turnout.

I thank the Minister for his comments about Grenfell. I welcome the legislation that the Government have introduced to lower the voting age to 16, and to make it easier for people to register to vote, but has he considered the benefits for increased participation in elections of adding a “none of the above” option on all ballot papers? This change could be made without primary legislation.

I thank the Minister for his comments about Grenfell. I welcome the legislation that the Government have introduced to lower the voting age to 16, and to make it easier for people to register to vote, but has he considered the benefits for increased participation in elections of adding a “none of the above” option on all ballot papers? This change could be made without primary legislation.

The Government are very interested indeed in increasing participation in elections, and I know from personal experience that the biggest way to do that is to increase campaigning, because that increases turnout. Beyond that, the Government have already piloted flexible voting pilots at the May 2026 elections; we tested early voting, and the use of non-traditional places to vote. Also, the Democratic Engagement Fund is providing £2.5 million to support local projects that encourage more people to vote. Of course, we want to look at all proposals for getting people voting, because that is central to the efficiency and effectiveness of our democracy.

The Government are very interested indeed in increasing participation in elections, and I know from personal experience that the biggest way to do that is to increase campaigning, because that increases turnout. Beyond that, the Government have already piloted flexible voting pilots at the May 2026 elections; we tested early voting, and the use of non-traditional places to vote. Also, the Democratic Engagement Fund is providing £2.5 million to support local projects that encourage more people to vote. Of course, we want to look at all proposals for getting people voting, because that is central to the efficiency and effectiveness of our democracy.

Following the Danish election on 24 March 2026, Mette Frederiksen has been appointed to serve a third term as prime minister, leading a minority coalition government.

Following the Danish election on 24 March 2026, Mette Frederiksen has been appointed to serve a third term as prime minister, leading a minority coalition government.

Explore 2024 general election results and census data for constituencies using our data tool.

Explore 2024 general election results and census data for constituencies using our data tool.

Elections to the Senedd Cymru/ Welsh Parliament took place on 7 May 2026. Plaid Cymru won the most seats, followed by Reform UK Wales.

Elections to the Senedd Cymru/ Welsh Parliament took place on 7 May 2026. Plaid Cymru won the most seats, followed by Reform UK Wales.

Elections to the Scottish Parliament took place on 7 May 2026. The Scottish National Party won the most seats, followed by Labour and Reform UK.

Elections to the Scottish Parliament took place on 7 May 2026. The Scottish National Party won the most seats, followed by Labour and Reform UK.

I thank the Minister, but this is the classic problem. She is not on top of her brief. She is absolutely allowed to write to regulators and ask whether they are breaking the law. Let me try another question. The Muslim Vote campaign is telling people how to vote, depending on what God they pray to. This is divisive, sectarian and has no place in Britain. The last time I asked the Minister to condemn that, she said that she was not aware of what I was describing, but in these local elections, the Muslim Vote has once again endorsed the Green party and Plaid Cymru. I will give her another chance: will she condemn this group and the divisive sectarian role it is playing in British politics?

I thank the Minister, but this is the classic problem. She is not on top of her brief. She is absolutely allowed to write to regulators and ask whether they are breaking the law. Let me try another question. The Muslim Vote campaign is telling people how to vote, depending on what God they pray to. This is divisive, sectarian and has no place in Britain. The last time I asked the Minister to condemn that, she said that she was not aware of what I was describing, but in these local elections, the Muslim Vote has once again endorsed the Green party and Plaid Cymru. I will give her another chance: will she condemn this group and the divisive sectarian role it is playing in British politics?

No one should face pressure or undue influence around their voting behaviour; let me be absolutely clear on that point. But let me also be clear to the House that I am fed up to the back teeth of Opposition politicians coming here time and again to sow division across our country. I am proud of the tolerant, compassionate and respectful nation that we are, and the shadow Justice Secretary should have been sacked for his shocking and shameful racist comments against Muslims in our country.

No one should face pressure or undue influence around their voting behaviour; let me be absolutely clear on that point. But let me also be clear to the House that I am fed up to the back teeth of Opposition politicians coming here time and again to sow division across our country. I am proud of the tolerant, compassionate and respectful nation that we are, and the shadow Justice Secretary should have been sacked for his shocking and shameful racist comments against Muslims in our country.

Overseas voters are British citizens living overseas registered to vote in UK Parliament elections. This briefing explains overseas voters' eligibility and voting.

Overseas voters are British citizens living overseas registered to vote in UK Parliament elections. This briefing explains overseas voters' eligibility and voting.

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 24 March (HL15443), what steps the Ministry of Justice has taken in the last year to meet its legal duty to keep under review the question of when uncommenced legislation that falls within its area of...

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 24 March (HL15443), what steps the Ministry of Justice has taken in the last year to meet its legal duty to keep under review the question of when uncommenced legislation that falls within its area of...

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of a) local, b) regional and c) general elections being held on a Saturday on voter turnout.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of a) local, b) regional and c) general elections being held on a Saturday on voter turnout.

Polling day for UK elections is usually Thursday and cannot be held at a weekend. Weekend voting pilots are being held in four areas in local elections in May 2026.

Polling day for UK elections is usually Thursday and cannot be held at a weekend. Weekend voting pilots are being held in four areas in local elections in May 2026.

The UK Government has authorised pilot schemes to take place at local elections in England in May 2026. These will test new ways of polling station voting.

The UK Government has authorised pilot schemes to take place at local elections in England in May 2026. These will test new ways of polling station voting.

Finland has been led by a centre-right government since 2023, bringing together the centre-right National Coalition Party and the right-wing Finns Party

Finland has been led by a centre-right government since 2023, bringing together the centre-right National Coalition Party and the right-wing Finns Party

The UK Government has introduced a bill to make 16 the voting age for all elections. This briefing details the voting age for UK elections and the debate about lowering the voting age.

The UK Government has introduced a bill to make 16 the voting age for all elections. This briefing details the voting age for UK elections and the debate about lowering the voting age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of deferring local elections on the long-term level of turnout.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of deferring local elections on the long-term level of turnout.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help improve voter participation in Surrey Heath constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help improve voter participation in Surrey Heath constituency.

My Lords, I will make two points. The first relates to Motion B and the removal of the arbitrary statutory limit on compensation. My noble friend the Minister mentioned the tribunal statistics for 2023-24, published by the Government, and the fact that the median award for unfair dismissal was £6,746....

My Lords, I will make two points. The first relates to Motion B and the removal of the arbitrary statutory limit on compensation. My noble friend the Minister mentioned the tribunal statistics for 2023-24, published by the Government, and the fact that the median award for unfair dismissal was £6,746....

Oh!

Oh!

Thanks for bearing with me. In December 1909, all this changed. The Judicial Committee of this House held, in the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants v Osborne, that the statutory definition was exhaustive and it was therefore unlawful for a union to spend money on any object other than the...

Thanks for bearing with me. In December 1909, all this changed. The Judicial Committee of this House held, in the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants v Osborne, that the statutory definition was exhaustive and it was therefore unlawful for a union to spend money on any object other than the...

Oh!

Oh!

I am coming to the end.

I am coming to the end.

I am coming to the conclusion. The Trade Union Act 1913 changed the definition of a trade union to allow it legitimately to spend funds on other objects beyond industrial relations and, if approved

by a ballot of the members, a union could have a political fund to be used...

I am coming to the conclusion. The Trade Union Act 1913 changed the definition of a trade union to allow it legitimately to spend funds on other objects beyond industrial relations and, if approved

by a ballot of the members, a union could have a political fund to be used...

My Lords, I am going to speak, in mercifully brief terms, about SMEs, but I will spare noble Lords the history of SMEs in the UK from 1910 to 2026.

My point, in relation to Motions B and B1, is that lifting the cap on unfair dismissal without warning and at...

My Lords, I am going to speak, in mercifully brief terms, about SMEs, but I will spare noble Lords the history of SMEs in the UK from 1910 to 2026.

My point, in relation to Motions B and B1, is that lifting the cap on unfair dismissal without warning and at...

My Lords, there is one short point that the House should bear in mind in relation to Motion B1. There is already no cap on the award of compensation in employment tribunals for race discrimination, sex discrimination and disability discrimination cases. The House may therefore think that the concerns that...

My Lords, there is one short point that the House should bear in mind in relation to Motion B1. There is already no cap on the award of compensation in employment tribunals for race discrimination, sex discrimination and disability discrimination cases. The House may therefore think that the concerns that...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions today. This continues the robust discussion that we have had throughout the passage of the Bill.

I come first to some of the constitutional points, or those that go to the way that we do business. As I outlined in my...

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions today. This continues the robust discussion that we have had throughout the passage of the Bill.

I come first to some of the constitutional points, or those that go to the way that we do business. As I outlined in my...

My Lords, I move that the Question be now put.

My Lords, I move that the Question be now put.

I emphasise again that the Government’s convening of recent discussions and our willingness to compromise on the issue of unfair dismissal should signal to parliamentarians and stakeholders that we want to get this right. I emphasise that the Government’s work on this agenda is far from over. There will be...

I emphasise again that the Government’s convening of recent discussions and our willingness to compromise on the issue of unfair dismissal should signal to parliamentarians and stakeholders that we want to get this right. I emphasise that the Government’s work on this agenda is far from over. There will be...

My Lords, there was a moment when I was engulfed in shame that I had misunderstood the difference between median and average. Fortunately, the noble Lord, Lord Hendy, distracted your Lordships quite quickly, so I have recovered.

Nobody in this House is pretending that this is perfect. We are at a...

My Lords, there was a moment when I was engulfed in shame that I had misunderstood the difference between median and average. Fortunately, the noble Lord, Lord Hendy, distracted your Lordships quite quickly, so I have recovered.

Nobody in this House is pretending that this is perfect. We are at a...

Moved by

Baroness Lloyd of Effra

Moved by

Baroness Lloyd of Effra

My Lords, I have already spoken to Motion B. I beg to move.

Motion B1 (as an amendment to Motion B)

My Lords, I have already spoken to Motion B. I beg to move.

Motion B1 (as an amendment to Motion B)

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

My Lords, in view of the manifest constitutional impropriety on display, I do not think we have a choice. I beg to move Motion B1.

My Lords, in view of the manifest constitutional impropriety on display, I do not think we have a choice. I beg to move Motion B1.

Moved by

Baroness Lloyd of Effra

Moved by

Baroness Lloyd of Effra

Moved by

Baroness Lloyd of Effra

Moved by

Baroness Lloyd of Effra

Moved by

Lord Burns

Moved by

Lord Burns

My Lords, I have listened closely to the Minister and I have had several conversations with the Front-Bench team. I remain very disappointed with the determination to go back towards the 1945 arrangements. I fear that, unless we can make further progress and improve how this Bill works in practice,...

My Lords, I have listened closely to the Minister and I have had several conversations with the Front-Bench team. I remain very disappointed with the determination to go back towards the 1945 arrangements. I fear that, unless we can make further progress and improve how this Bill works in practice,...

Moved by

Baroness Lloyd of Effra

That this House do not insist on its insistence on Lords Amendment 62 in respect of which the Commons have insisted on their disagreement; and do agree with the Commons in their Amendment 62E in lieu of Lords Amendment 62.

62E: Clause 156, page 151, line 6,...

Moved by

Baroness Lloyd of Effra

That this House do not insist on its insistence on Lords Amendment 62 in respect of which the Commons have insisted on their disagreement; and do agree with the Commons in their Amendment 62E in lieu of Lords Amendment 62.

62E: Clause 156, page 151, line 6,...

My Lords, I have already spoken to Motion E. I beg to move.

Motion E1 (as an amendment to Motion E)

My Lords, I have already spoken to Motion E. I beg to move.

Motion E1 (as an amendment to Motion E)

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

Leave out from “House” to end and insert “do insist on its Amendment 62, and do disagree with the Commons in their Amendment 62E in lieu of Lords Amendment 62.”

Moved by

Lord Sharpe of Epsom

Leave out from “House” to end and insert “do insist on its Amendment 62, and do disagree with the Commons in their Amendment 62E in lieu of Lords Amendment 62.”

I beg to move.

I beg to move.

My Lords, I thank the Minister and the noble Lord, Lord Collins, for meeting with me earlier today. It allowed us to sort out some misunderstandings, for which I am very grateful.

I will speak only to Motions B and B1. I somewhat regret that this is not the speech that...

My Lords, I thank the Minister and the noble Lord, Lord Collins, for meeting with me earlier today. It allowed us to sort out some misunderstandings, for which I am very grateful.

I will speak only to Motions B and B1. I somewhat regret that this is not the speech that...

My Lords, I thank the Minister, who is new at the Dispatch Box, for explaining things quite clearly. I am thankful for the Government accepting that amendment, which has clearly enabled the country to feel, when people take on jobs, that there is a qualifying period, although not an indefinite...

My Lords, I thank the Minister, who is new at the Dispatch Box, for explaining things quite clearly. I am thankful for the Government accepting that amendment, which has clearly enabled the country to feel, when people take on jobs, that there is a qualifying period, although not an indefinite...

My Lords, I will speak fairly briefly in support of Motion D1 from the noble Lord, Lord Burns. This has become known as the hokey-cokey amendment—opt in, opt out, opt in, opt out, through the chain of amendments that have been put down. I support the vital role of trade...

My Lords, I will speak fairly briefly in support of Motion D1 from the noble Lord, Lord Burns. This has become known as the hokey-cokey amendment—opt in, opt out, opt in, opt out, through the chain of amendments that have been put down. I support the vital role of trade...

My Lords, the subjects covered by these amendments have been more than extensively debated already, so I do not need to rehearse all the arguments around each issue. Nor do I need, I hope, to remind the House that this whole Bill represents the fulfilment of a hugely important manifesto...

My Lords, the subjects covered by these amendments have been more than extensively debated already, so I do not need to rehearse all the arguments around each issue. Nor do I need, I hope, to remind the House that this whole Bill represents the fulfilment of a hugely important manifesto...

My Lords, I will speak on Motions B and B1 and register that I speak on behalf of SMEs and as a small employer of 130 people. I thank the Government for listening to businesses and this Chamber with regard to the change to unfair dismissal. Six months is certainly...

My Lords, I will speak on Motions B and B1 and register that I speak on behalf of SMEs and as a small employer of 130 people. I thank the Government for listening to businesses and this Chamber with regard to the change to unfair dismissal. Six months is certainly...

Lords consideration of Commons amendments. Lords amendment 1B not insisted on and Commons amendments 1E and 1F in lieu agreed to. Lords amendments 23 and 106 to 120 not insisted on, Commons amendments 120G, 120H and 120J to 120M in lieu agreed to and Lords amendment 120N, as an amendment to Commons amendment 120G, and Lords amendments 120P to 120S, as amendments to Commons amendment 120H, agreed to on division (244 to 220). Lords amendment 48B not insisted on and Commons amendments 48E and 48F in lieu agreed to. Lords amendments 72D to 72H not insisted on, Commons amendments 72J and 72K in lieu agreed to, and Lords amendments 72L to 72N and 72P to 72R negatived. Lords amendment 62 not insisted on and Commons amendment 62E in lieu agreed to on division (219 to 223). Bill returned to the Commons with amendments.

Lords consideration of Commons amendments. Lords amendment 1B not insisted on and Commons amendments 1E and 1F in lieu agreed to. Lords amendments 23 and 106 to 120 not insisted on, Commons amendments 120G, 120H and 120J to 120M in lieu agreed to and Lords amendment 120N, as an amendment...