Comparison of Divisions: Opposition Day — Electoral System — 26 Feb 2007 at 21:44 with Division No. 104 on 29 Apr 2009 at 15:49
(Swap the two divisions around).
Vote (a) (unedited): Opposition Day — Electoral System - 26 Feb 2007 at 21:44 - Division No. 56
I beg to move,
That this House believes that all electors are entitled to a free, fair and secure vote; notes that in its Eleventh Report the Committee on Standards in Public Life found evidence of a continuing threat of fraud in the electoral system and called for the implementation of secure individual voter registration and other measures to protect integrity; regrets the unwillingness of the Government to adopt such a system in Great Britain despite calls from the Committee, the Electoral Commission and many others; welcomes the investigation by the Council of Europe into electoral fraud in the United Kingdom and the visit to London today of two rapporteurs; expresses concern at Government attempts to introduce electronic voting until such time as adequate security measures are available; and believes that urgent steps are needed to restore public confidence and integrity in the electoral system, starting with individual voter registration.
I beg to move, To leave out from "House" to the end of the Question, and to add instead thereof:
"believes that the Government has introduced a range of sensible and proportionate measures to ensure that elections are safe and secure; recognises that public confidence in the electoral process is paramount; believes that the Government is taking an appropriate and sensible approach in testing and trialling e-voting before making any decision to introduce it or not; supports the action being taken by the Government to ensure that electoral registers are comprehensive and accurate; and notes that these issues were debated during the passage of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 through Parliament."
Question put, That the original words stand part of the Question:-
The House divided: Ayes 219, Noes 282.
Vote (b) : Gurkha Settlement Rights — Government defeat - 29 Apr 2009 at 15:49 - Division No. 104
The majority of MPs voted in favour of the motion:[1]
- This House
- regrets the Government's recent statement[2] outlining the eligibility criteria for Gurkhas to reside in the United Kingdom;
- recognises the contribution the Gurkhas have made to the safety and freedom of the United Kingdom for the past 200 years;
- notes that more Gurkhas have laid down their lives for the United Kingdom than are estimated to want to live here;
- believes that Gurkhas who retired before 1997 should be treated fairly and in the same way as those who have retired since;
- is concerned that the Government's new guidelines will permit only a small minority of Gurkhas and their families to settle whilst preventing the vast majority;
- further believes that people who are prepared to fight and die for the United Kingdom should be entitled to live in the country; and
- calls upon the Government to withdraw its new guidelines immediately and bring forward revised proposals that extend an equal right of residence to all Gurkhas.
As a consequence, the alternative Government motion, which read:[3]
- This House
- recognises that this Government is the only one since the Second World War to allow Gurkhas and their families settlement rights to the United Kingdom;
- notes that in 2004 the Government permitted settlement rights to Gurkhas discharged since 1997, following the transfer of the Brigade HQ from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom;
- further notes that under these rules around 6,000 Gurkhas and family members have been welcomed to the UK;
- acknowledges that the court judgement of September 2008 determined that the 1997 cut-off date was fair and rational, while seeking clarification of the criteria for settlement rights for those who retired before 1997;
- further notes that on 24 April the Government published new and more generous guidelines for the settlement applications of Gurkhas who retired before 1997;
- supports this revised guidance, which will make around 10,000 Gurkhas and family members eligible to settle in the UK;
- further notes that the Government undertakes actively to inform those who may be eligible in Nepal of these changes and to review the impact of the new guidance within 12 months;
- further notes that the contribution Gurkhas have made is already recognised by pensions paid to around 25,000 Gurkhas or their widows in Nepal that allow for a good standard of living there; and
- further notes that in the year 2000 Gurkha pensions were doubled and that, earlier in April 2009, in addition to an inflationary uplift of 14 per cent., those over 80 years old received a 20 per cent. increase in their pension.
... was never voted upon.
Although this extremely rare Government defeat in an opposition day motion is not binding (has no legal force)[4] a Government minister made a statement later in the day to bring "forward the date for the determination of the outstanding applications to the end of May."[5]
- [1] Christopher Huhne MP, House of Commons, 29 April 2009
- [2] Phil Woollas MP, Written Ministerial Statement, 29 April 2009
- [3] Phil Woolas MP, House of Commons, 29 April 2009
- [4] Home Secretary Jacqui Smith blamed for humiliating Gurkhas defeat in the Commons, Daily Mail, 30 April 2009
- [5] Phil Woolas MP, House of Commons, 29 April 2009
Opposite in Votes - sorted by party
MPs for which their vote on Motion (a) was opposite to their vote on Motion (b). You can also see all differing votes between these two divisions, or simply all the votes.
Sort by: Name | Constituency | Party | Vote (a) | Vote (b)
Name | Constituency | Party | Vote (a) | Vote (b) |
Diane Abbott | Hackney North and Stoke Newington | Lab | no | aye |
Harry Cohen | Leyton and Wanstead | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Jeremy Corbyn | Islington North | Lab | no | aye |
Paul Farrelly | Newcastle-under-Lyme | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Neil Gerrard | Walthamstow | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Kelvin Hopkins | Luton North | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Joan Humble | Blackpool North and Fleetwood | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Andrew MacKinlay | Thurrock | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Gordon Marsden | Blackpool South | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
John Martin McDonnell | Hayes and Harlington | Lab | no | aye |
Shona McIsaac | Cleethorpes | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Nick Palmer | Broxtowe | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Steve Pound | Ealing North | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Nick Raynsford | Greenwich and Woolwich | Lab | no | aye |
Andy Reed | Loughborough | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Linda Riordan | Halifax | Lab (minister) | no | aye |
Alan Simpson | Nottingham South | Lab | no | aye |
Andrew Smith | Oxford East | Lab | no | aye |
Paul Truswell | Pudsey | Lab | no | aye |
Keith Vaz | Leicester East | Lab | no | aye |
Hywel Williams | Caernarfon | PC (front bench) | no | aye |