Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill — Simplification of the Process for Legally Ending a Marriage or Civil Partnership — 8 Jun 2020 at 21:51

The majority of MPs voted to simplify the process of legally ending a marriage or civil partnership, but to set a minimum time-frame of 26 weeks for the process.

MPs were considering the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill[1].

The Bill[2]:

  • Replaced the requirement to provide evidence of conduct or separation facts with a new requirement to provide a statement of irretrievable breakdown.
  • Removed the possibility of contesting the decision to divorce
  • Introduced a minimum overall time-frame of six months (26 weeks) into the divorce process
  • Introduced a new option of a joint application
  • Updated terminology, for example replacing terms such as "decree nisi", "decree absolute" and "petitioner" with "conditional order", "final order" and "applicant".

The motion supported by a majority of MPs in this vote was:

  • That the Bill be now read a Second time.

Support for this motion enabled the Bill to continue on its path to becoming law.

Debate in Parliament |

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Party Summary

Votes by party, red entries are votes against the majority for that party.

What is Tell? '+1 tell' means that in addition one member of that party was a teller for that division lobby.

What are Boths? An MP can vote both aye and no in the same division. The boths page explains this.

What is Turnout? This is measured against the total membership of the party at the time of the vote.

PartyMajority (Aye)Minority (No)BothTurnout
Con207 (+2 tell) 12 (+2 tell)061.1%
DUP0 4050.0%
Lab22 0010.9%
LDem3 0027.3%
Total:232 16043.0%

Rebel Voters - sorted by vote

MPs for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party. You can see all votes in this division, or every eligible MP who could have voted in this division

Sort by: Name | Constituency | Party | Vote

NameConstituencyPartyVote
Sir David AmessSouthend WestCon (front bench)no
Peter BoneWellingboroughwhilst Con (front bench)tellno
Fiona BruceCongletonCon (front bench)no
Christopher ChopeChristchurchCon (front bench)tellno
Philip DaviesShipleyCon (front bench)no
Sally-Ann HartHastings and RyeCon (front bench)no
John HayesSouth Holland and The DeepingsConno
Danny KrugerDevizesConno
Edward LeighGainsboroughCon (front bench)no
Karl McCartneyLincolnCon (front bench)no
Robin MillarAberconwyCon (front bench)no
Andrew RosindellRomfordCon (front bench)no
Desmond SwayneNew Forest WestCon (front bench)no
Martin VickersCleethorpesCon (front bench)no

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