After MPs considered the Bill at Second Reading on Tuesday 16 December 2025, it was agreed that a number of clauses would be committed to a Committee of the whole House on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 January 2026. The House considers the Bill in the same way as a Public Bill Committee, but does not take evidence. 

The following clauses and amendments were selected for debate and votes: the House sat late on Monday and as I was chairing in Westminster Hall debates on Tuesday, the sitting there had to be suspended so that voting can take place. 






New Clause 12, requiring the Secretary of State to publish an assessment of the impact of imposing new rates of income tax on property income, was rejected: Ayes 167, Noes 350.















Clause 10, setting the basic rate limit and personal allowance for tax years 2028-29 to 2030-31, passed: Ayes 324, Noes 180.







Clause 62, limiting agricultural property relief and business property relief, and extending inheritance tax to overseas property, passed: Ayes 344, Noes 181.









Amendment 3, which would remove the transition period in respect of the changes to agricultural property and business property relief and delay the implementation date so that the changes would take effect for transfers made after 1 March 2027, was rejected: Ayes 185, Noes 344.











New Clause 7 which would require the Chancellor to undertake and publish an assessment of the potential merits of uprating annually the relief allowance amount for agricultural property by the change in the value of agricultural land within six months of the passing of this Act, was rejected: Ayes 188, Noes 341.












Clause 63 which treats a registered pension scheme, a qualifying non-UK pension scheme or an occupational pension scheme for those whose employers carry out business wholly or partly outside the UK as part of taxable estate, passed: Ayes 348, Noes 167. 









New Clause 24, which would require HMRC to publish comprehensive guidance on the implementation of sections 63 to 68 and establish a dedicated helpline for enquiries relating to inheritance tax on pension interests, was rejected: Ayes 184, Noes 331.












New Clause 25, which would require the Chancellor to make a statement about the effects of the increase in gambling duties, was rejected: Ayes 187, Noes 351.














Clause 86, concerning rates of duty, passed: Ayes 344, Noes 173.












New Clause 9, which would require the Chancellor of the Exchequer to assess and report on the cumulative impact on the hospitality sector of alcohol duty measures in the Act alongside wider fiscal changes, including employer National Insurance contributions and business rates, was rejected: Ayes 181, Noes 335.



















New Clause 26, which would require the Chancellor to make a statement about the effects of the increase in alcohol duty, was rejected: Ayes 172, Noes 334.















The remainder of the Bill; Clauses 1 to 10, 62 to 69 and 83 to 86 and Schedules 1, 2, 12 and 13 will be committed to a Public Bill Committee. Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee will be brought to a conclusion on Thursday 26 February 2026.

On 12 January 2026 I signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, pledging my commitment to marking Holocaust Memorial Day – honouring the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust and to pay tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.

Holocaust Memorial Day 27 January this year marks over 80 years since the liberation of the infamous former Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, in 1945. It presents an opportunity for people from Walsall and Bloxwich to reflect on the darkest times of European history. Across the UK and internationally, people will come together to commemorate the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps across Europe and to remember the Holocaust.

As survivors are becoming fewer and frailer, the responsibility falls on us and the next generation to remember and ensure the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten. This Holocaust Memorial Day brings the Holocaust to the fore of our national consciousness.

On Holocaust Memorial Day we also remember and pay tribute to all of those persecuted by the Nazis, including Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, gay men, political opponents to the Nazis and others.

On 7 January 2026 the 15th allotted Opposition Day was allocated for debate and the Conservative Party chose to raise Jury Trials and Rural Communities as matters for debate.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Jenrick MP, moved the following motion:

"That this House believes that it is wrong to abolish jury trials for crimes with anticipated sentences of three years or less because jury trials are a fundamental part of the UK constitution and democracy; acknowledges the scale of the courts backlog and the necessity of reducing it to ensure justice for victims but believes that restricting the fundamental right to trial by jury will have a limited effect on reducing that backlog; calls on the Government to increase the number of court sitting days to help urgently reduce the backlog; and further calls on the Government to publish immediately all modelling it has undertaken and received on the potential impact of the abolition of jury trials on that backlog."

The Motion was rejected (Ayes 182, Noes 290) and the following amendment in the name of the Prime Minister was resolved: 

"That this House believes that the Government inherited a justice system on the brink of collapse with a record and rising caseload created under 14 years of Conservative mismanagement, austerity and cuts to the justice system that has forced victims of crime to wait years for justice; notes that the justice system has historically evolved to match the needs of the society it serves; supports the Government in making the investment required, including continuing to break records on the number of sitting days funded; looks forward to Sir Brian Leveson’s upcoming recommendations on reforms to improve efficiencies across the courts system; further supports taking forward reforms to the justice system based on Sir Brian Leveson’s independent review of the criminal courts in which victims and the public can have confidence; and further notes that the Government will introduce legislation and publish its impact assessment in due course."

Following this debate, the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Victoria Atkins MP moved the following motion:

"That this House regrets that the Government’s policies have resulted in taxes forecast to rise to the highest proportion of GDP on record, record closures of agriculture, forestry and fishing businesses in the last 12 months, the closure of two pubs or restaurants every day and falling levels of business investment; further regrets the Government’s changes to funding for rural areas; also regrets the Government’s plans to build more energy infrastructure in the countryside to meet its net zero targets; believes that these changes are likely to affect the rural way of life; additionally regrets the Government’s chaotic approach to its plans to change Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief; and calls on the Government to scrap all its planned changes to those reliefs."

The Motion was rejected (Ayes 105, Noes 332) and the following amendment in the name of the Prime Minister was resolved: 

"That this House welcomes the support that the Government is providing for rural people, communities and businesses; commends the continued support for farmers through investment in Environmental Land Management schemes which will boost nature and sustainable food production; recognises that the Government has listened on the subject of Agricultural Property Relief and made changes to support family farms; further welcomes the Bus Services Act 2025, which includes provision to support the protection of socially necessary bus services in rural areas; further recognises that the Government continues to invest in Project Gigabit with £2.4 billion available to ensure over one million premises have access to gigabit-capable broadband; and supports the joined-up approach with the weight of Government behind tackling rural crimes such as the theft of high value farm equipment and livestock."

I made the following intervention in Parliament at the Westminster Hall debate "That this House has considered Government proposals for renewal of the BBC Charter", moved by Sir John Whittingdale MP:

"I respect the right hon. Gentleman’s views, as he is a former Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, but does he agree that 47p a day is value for money for nine television stations, 17 radio stations, iPlayer, BBC Sounds and the BBC World Service? Does he think that represents good value for money? 47p a day."

I asked that question to Sir John if he agreed with me. I do think 47p a day for the full breath of BBC output does provide a valuable service for everyone from News and current affairs to Culture and Sport and is value for money. 

The BBC Charter is up for renewal and there is a Green Paper out for consultation Britain’s Story: The Next Chapter - the BBC Royal Charter Review, Green Paper and public consultation - GOV.UK. I would encourage everyone to make their views known and respond to the consultation. 

Here you can read the eNews for December 2025