The following article is a list of government defeats in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on whipped votes

Chief Whip

The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...

 since 1945. (Votes on private member's bill

Private Member's Bill

A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...

s, private bill

Private bill

A private bill is a proposal for a law that would apply to a particular individual or group of individuals, or corporate entity. If enacted, it becomes a private Act . This is unlike public bills which apply to everyone within their jurisdiction...

s and internal matters of the House of Commons are not whipped votes and so are not listed below).

Most government defeats since World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 have occurred in periods of minority government

Minority government

A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...

 or where the government has a small majority. Government defeats have been caused by backbench rebellions and by opposition parties voting against a government when they had more MPs present in the House of Commons.

Attlee

• 29 March 1950 - A motion to adjourn a debate on fuel was won by the Opposition 283-257.
• 9 April 1951 - An order to reduce cheese rations was defeated
• 5 July 1951 - Motion for a Prayer to annul the Plasterboard (Prices) (No. 1) Order
• 16 July 1951 - Defeat on compulsory purchases of forestry.

Churchill

• 11 November 1953 - Churchill's Government lost a prayer to annul on the Miscellaneous Controls (Revocation) Order 1953.

Wilson

• 5 March 1965 - A motion, moved by Conservative MP Forbes Hendry
  Forbes Hendry
  Alexander Forbes Hendry was a Scottish Conservative Party politician.He was Member of Parliament for Aberdeenshire West from 1959 until 1966, when the seat was won by Liberal candidate James Davidson....
  
  , to put the question on procedural motion relating to the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Bill was passed by 128-117.
• 5 March 1965 - A Conservative motion to discharge the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Bill Standing Committee, and replace it with a Committee of the Whole House
  Committee of the Whole House
  In the United Kingdom House of Commons, the Committee of the Whole House is used instead of a standing committee for the clause-by-clause debate of important or contentious bills...
  
   was passed by 128-120.
• 6 July 1965 - The second reading of new clause, tabled by the Conservatives, to the Finance (No. 2) Bill, which sought to ensure that the amount of Capital Gains Tax
  Capital gains tax
  A capital gains tax is a tax charged on capital gains, the profit realized on the sale of a non-inventory asset that was purchased at a lower price. The most common capital gains are realized from the sale of stocks, bonds, precious metals and property...
  
   payable by a unit trust
  Unit trust
  A unit trust is a form of collective investment constituted under a trust deed.Found in Australia, Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia and the UK, unit trusts offer access to a wide range of securities....
  
   or investment trust
  Investment trust
  An Investment trust is a form of collective investment found mostly in the United Kingdom. Investment trusts are closed-end funds and are constituted as public limited companies....
  
   did not exceed that payable by an individual, was passed by 180-166.
• 6 July 1965 - A Motion to add the aforementioned new clause to the bill was passed by 180-167.
• 6 July 1965 - A Motion to adjourn the debate on the Finance (No. 2) Bill, which was opposed by the government, was passed by 180-167
• 4 May 1970 - A Conservative amendment to the Administration of Justice Bill [Lords] was passed by 105-104.

Heath

Edward Heath

Edward Heath

Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....

's government suffered six defeats in the House of Commons during its four years in office.

• 24 April 1972 - A new clause, tabled by the Conservative backbencher Geoffrey Finsberg
  Geoffrey Finsberg
  Geoffrey Finsberg, Baron Finsberg, MBE, JP was a British Conservative politician.Finsberg was educated at the City of London School and was a 'Bevin Boy' 1945-47. From a young age he was active in the Conservative Party and was founder chairman of Mansfield Young Conservatives 1946-47...
  
  , to the Housing Finance Bill, which related to service charges for unfurnished lettings, was passed with support of opposition parties by 251-247. However, the motion to add the new clause to the bill was later voted down by 245-242.
• 19 July 1972 - An amendment, moved by Conservative backbencher Arthur Jones
  Arthur Jones (politician)
  Arthur Jones was a British Conservative Party politician.Bedford-born, Jones was educated at Bedford Modern School and became an estate agent, company director and farmer in north Bedfordshire. He became a councillor on Bedford Borough Council in 1949 and on Bedfordshire County Council in 1956,...
  
  , to the Local Government Bill, which sought to give new district councils the power to control refuse disposal, was passed with the support of opposition parties by 190-186.
• 20 October 1972 - A Labour amendment to a Lords Amendment on the Criminal Justice Bill which sought to reduce the minimum age for jury service from 21 to 18 was passed by 53-47.
• 22 November 1972 - A Labour motion to disapprove of the government's Statement of Immigration Rules for Control on Entry was passed by 275-240.
• 13 June 1973 - The second reading of a new clause to the Maplin Development Bill, which orders the Civil Aviation Authority to consult on aerospace development, was approved, despite opposition from the government, by 267-250.
• 12 July 1973 - A government amendment to an opposition motion regarding export licences for sheep was rejected by 285-264.

Wilson (2nd term)

Harold Wilson

Harold Wilson

James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...

's second government suffered 25 defeats in the House of Commons between 1974 and 1976. The majority of these defeats, 18 in total, occurred in June and July 1974, when Wilson did not have a majority in the House of Commons after the February 1974 general election

United Kingdom general election, February 1974

The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...

 produced a hung parliament

Hung parliament

In a two-party parliamentary system of government, a hung parliament occurs when neither major political party has an absolute majority of seats in the parliament . It is also less commonly known as a balanced parliament or a legislature under no overall control...

. Wilson called a further general election in October 1974

United Kingdom general election, October 1974

The United Kingdom general election of October 1974 took place on 10 October 1974 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. It was the second general election of that year and resulted in the Labour Party led by Harold Wilson, winning by a tiny majority of 3 seats.The election of...

 in an attempt to gain a majority. He did, however this majority was just three seats.

• 19 June 1974 - The second reading of a government new clause to the Finance Bill, which sought to continue to exempt trade unions from certain taxes under section 338 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970
  Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970
  The Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 was an Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom which was repealed in 1992.-Section 226 plans:...
  
  , was defeated by 308-299.
• 20 June 1974 - A government amendment to an opposition motion that regretted "the government's damaging industrial policy" was defeated by 311-290.
• 20 June 1974 - The aforementioned opposition motion that regretted "the government's damaging industrial policy" was passed, again by 311-290.
• 27 June 1974 - A government amendment to an opposition motion, endorsing the government's policy on local government finance, was rejected by 298-289.
• 27 June 1974 - An opposition motion, calling for a fundamental reform to the government's local government rates system, was passed by 298-289.
• 11 July 1974 - A Conservative amendment to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Bill, which proposed to make the dismissal of an employee for not being a member of a trade union unfair, was passed by 291-290. The defeat was only realised the following day after the original division resulted in a tied vote of 290-290, however it then emerged that one too many 'no' votes had been counted.
• 11 July 1974 - A further amendment to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Bill, which attempted to make the dismissal of an employee on the grounds on refusal to join a trade union unfair was passed by 283-282. Again, the government's defeat was only realised the following day when it became clear that a tied vote had been caused by the overcounting of the 'no' votes.
• 16 July 1974 - The second reading of a Conservative new clause to the Finance Bill, which proposed raising the two limits of Corporation Tax liability, was passed by 292-267.
• 16 July 1974 - An amendment to the Finance Bill to restrict the rate of pool betting duty was passed by 291-274.
• 16 July 1974 - A government amendment to the Finance Bill, designed to make VAT charges on the hiring of goods retrospective to April 1973, was defeated by 298-280.
• 16 July 1974 - A Liberal amendment to the Finance Bill, proposing to set the additional rate of income tax on investment incomes at 15% on incomes over £2,000, was passed by 296-280.
• 18 July 1974 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords Amendment to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Bill, which proposed to keep responsibility for health and safety in Agriculture with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, was defeated by 159-153.
• 18 July 1974 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords Amendment to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Bill, which proposed to give power to non-unionised employees to appoint health and safety representatives, was defeated by 147-143.
• 30 July 1974 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords new clause to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Bill, which proposed to outlaw arbitrary exclusion of a person from a trade union, was defeated by 276-270.
• 30 July 1974 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords new clause to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Bill, which required trade unions to have specified rules for conducting ballots for their governing bodies, was defeated by 280-269.
• 30 July 1974 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Bill, which would allow trade unions who failed to follow the bill's rules to be deregistered, was defeated by 281-271.
• 30 July 1974 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Bill, which would give protection to civil employees taking part in trade disputes, was defeated by 282-272.
• 30 July 1974 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Bill, which would restrict immunities to disputes in Britain and change the rules regarding strikes in Britain in support of foreign workers from the same multi-national company, was defeated by 280-272.
• 29 January 1975 - A government amendment to the Social Security Benefits Bill, which sought to the restore the earnings rule limit for retired people at £13, was defeated by 280-265.
• 2 July 1975 - A government amendment to the Industry Bill, which proposed to remove obligations on government to disclose forecasts of economic parameters to certain companies, was defeated by 220-149.
• 2 July 1975 - A government amendment to the Industry Act, which sought to remove Schedule 3 from the bill which would made all planning agreements conditional on the government disclosing economic forecasts, was rejected by 230-147.
• 17 July 1975 - A Conservative amendment to the Finance Bill, which proposed to exclude certain television sets from the higher 25% level of VAT
  Value added tax
  A value added tax or value-added tax is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its...
  
  , was passed by 108-106.
• 4 August 1975 - A government amendment to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Housing Finance (Special Provisions) Bill, which sought to delete a clause that would disqualify any councillors who failed to implement the Housing Finance Act 1972, was defeated by 268-261.
• 11 February 1976 - An opposition motion to reduce the salary of the Secretary of State for Industry by £1,000, in essence a motion of no confidence, was passed by 214-209. However, the government Chief Whip
  Chief Whip
  The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
  
  , Robert Mellish, immediately raised questions as to the outcome of the vote in regards of alleged miscoutings, which in turn led to the government tabling a motion to counter the no confidence motion, which it won by 296-280.
• 10 March 1976 - A motion to approve the government's public expenditure policy was defeated by 284-256. It is unclear as to whether this motion had any impact on Harold Wilson's resignation, which followed 6 days later.

Callaghan

Jim Callaghan’s government suffered 34 defeats in the House of Commons during its three years in office. Callaghan’s government was a minority one for virtually all of its existence, after the former cabinet minister John Stonehouse

John Stonehouse

John Thomson Stonehouse was a British politician and minister under Harold Wilson. Stonehouse is perhaps best remembered for his unsuccessful attempt at faking his own death in 1974...

 resigned from the Labour party just two days after Callaghan became Prime Minister, leaving Labour one seat short of an overall majority in the House of Commons.

• 28 June 1976 - A motion for the House to adjourn following an opposition debate regarding the Child Benefit Scheme was passed by 259-0. The government abstained from the vote after it became clear that many Labour MPs were willing to break the whip to vote for the adjournment.
• 10 November 1978 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Dock Work Regulation Bill, which required the whole area designated a dock labour scheme to be inside a definable dock area, was defeated by 310-308.
• 10 November 1978 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Dock Work Regulation Bill, which sought to limit a definable dock area to within half a mile of a harbour, was defeated by 311-308.
• 7 February 1977 - The second reading of the Reducation of Redundancy Rebates Bill was rejected by 130-129.
• 22 February 1977 - A government motion to allocate time for the debating of the Scotland and Wales Bill is rejected by 312-283.
• 5 April 1977 - A motion for the House to adjourn following an debate on teacher training colleges in Scotland was passed by 203-185.
• 12 July 1977 - The third reading of the Local Authority Works (Scotland) Bill was rejected by 105-99.
• 13 July 1977 - A new clause to the Criminal Law Bill tabled by a Labour backbencher, which proposed to give people arrested the right to have a person informed of their imprisonment, was passed by 89-86.
• 22 November 1977 - A motion that Clause 1 of the Scotland Bill, which would have declared that the bill had no effect on the unity of the United Kingdom
  United Kingdom
  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
  
  , should stand part of the bill was defeated by 199-184.
• 5 December 1977 - A motion for the House to adjourn following a debate on the Crown Agents Scandal was passed by 158-126.
• 7 December 1977 - A motion that Clause 40 of the Scotland Bill, which required the Secretary of State
  Secretary of State for Scotland
  The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
  
   to have regard for national pay policy, should stand part of the bill was defeated by 161-160.
• 23 January 1978 - A Conservative amendment to set the rate of devalutation of the 'Green Pound' at 7.5% rather than the propsed 5% was passed by 291-280.
• 23 January 1978 - A motion devalue the 'Green Pound' by 7.5% following the previous Conservative amendment was passed by 291-281.
• 25 January 1978 - A backbench Labour amendment to an amendment to the Scotland Bill, which would change the threshold for accepting a 'yes' vote from 33% to 40%, was passed by 166-151.
• 25 January 1978 - A motion to accept the previous amendment, and to require the Secretary of State to repeal the Act if fewer than 40% of the Scottish electorate voted 'yes', was passed by 168-142.
• 25 January 1978 - An amendment to the Scotland Bill, which sought to exclude Orkney and/or Shetland from the provisions of the bill if they were to vote 'no' in a referendum, was passed by 204-118.
• 14 February 1978 - The second reading of a new clause to the Scotland Bill, which stated that no referendum could be held until three months after a general elections, was passed by 242-223.
• 15 February 1978 - An government amendment to the Scotland Bill, which would remove the requirement that the Secretary of State repeal the Act if fewer than 40% of the electorate voted in favour in a referendum, was rejected by 298-243.
• 15 February 1978 - An government amendment to the Scotland Bill, which would reduce the threshold for accepting a 'yes' vote back to 33%, was rejected by 285-240.
• 19 April 1978 - A motion for Clause 82 of the Wales Bill, which set down the conditions surroundings the commencement of the Act, to stand part of the bill was defeated by 259-232.
• 19 April 1978 - An amendment to the Wales Bill, which would require the Secretary of State
  Secretary of State for Wales
  The Secretary of State for Wales is the head of the Wales Office within the British cabinet. He or she is responsible for ensuring Welsh interests are taken into account by the government, representing the government within Wales and overseeing the passing of legislation which is only for Wales...
  
   to lay orders for the repeal of the Act should less than 40% of the electorate vote 'yes' in a referendum, was passed by 280-208.
• 8 May 1978 - A Conservative amendment to the Finance Bill, which would reduce the basic rate on income tax from 34% to 33%, was passed by 312-204.
• 10 May 1978 - A Conservaitve amendment to the Finance Bill, which raised the level at which the higher rate of income tax became payable from £7,000 to £8,000, was passed by 288-286.
• 10 May 1978 - A motion to bring consideration of the Finance Bill in Committee
  Committee of the Whole House
  In the United Kingdom House of Commons, the Committee of the Whole House is used instead of a standing committee for the clause-by-clause debate of important or contentious bills...
  
   was rejected by 280-273.
• 19 July 1978 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords amendment, which would disqualify Westminster MPs from being members of the Welsh Assembly, was rejected by 293-260.
• 20 July 1978 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords amendment, which would remove forestry from the competence of the Welsh assembly, was defeated by 280-247.
• 24 July 1978 - A motion to approve the draft Dock Labour Scheme 1978 was defeated by 301-291.
• 26 July 1978 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords amendment, which required Scottish MPs to approve the second reading of any Scottish Assembly bill, was rejected by 276-275.
• 26 July 1978 - A government motion to disagree with a Lords amendment, which sought to remove forestry from the transfer of property to the Scottish Assembly, was rejected by 286-266.
• 13 December 1978 - A Conservative amendment, decling to support the Government's use of economic sanctions against firms and workers who had negotiated wage increases beyond a Parliamentary approved limit, was passed by 285-279.
• 13 December 1978 - A motion, as amended by the previous Conservative amendment, opposing the government's use of sanctions on companies awarding pay rises in excess of 5%, was agreed to by 285-283.
• 7 February 1979 - A Conservative amendment to the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Bill, which required at least two members of the general public to serve on the Central Midwifery Committee, was passed by 149-121.
• 22 March 1979 - A Conservative motion to annul the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 1979 was passed by 115-26.
• 28 March 1979 - The government lost a motion of no confidence
  Motion of no confidence
  A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
  
   by 311-310, prompting a general election
  United Kingdom general election, 1979
  The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats...
  
   in which Callaghan's Labour party was defeated by Margaret Thatcher
  Margaret Thatcher
  Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
  
  's Conservative party.

Thatcher

During its 11 years in office, Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...

's government suffered four House of Commons defeats.

• 15 December 1982 - Defeat on changes to immigration rules
• 19 July 1983' - Defeat on amendment motion on setting MPs' salaries.
• 14 April 1986 - The second reading of the Shops Bills.
• 13 March 1990 - Defeat on a clause of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.

Major

John Major

John Major

Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...

's government suffered six defeats in the House of Commons during its seven year tenure.

• 8 March 1993 - A vote on an Amendment the European (Amendment) Bill to require all members of the European Union Committee of the Regions to be elected local government representatives was defeated.
• 22 July 1993 - A motion on the adoption of Protocol the on Social Policy to comply with the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993.
• 6 December 1994 - A defeat on a plan to increase Value Added Tax
  Value added tax
  A value added tax or value-added tax is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its...
  
   on domestic fuel.
• 19 December 1995 - A vote on fishery quotas
• 10 July 1996 - The Government were defeated on a Bill to limit Members pay increases.
• 27 January 1997 - A vote to allow Grant Maintained Schools to enlarge their pupil capacity to enlarge their capacity was defeated by one vote 272-273

Blair

Tony Blair

Tony Blair

Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...

's government suffered four House of Commons defeats during its 10 years in office, all within a period of one year.

• 9 November 2005 - An amendment to the Terrorism Bill to allow terrorist suspects to held without charge for 90 days was defeated 291-322.
• 31 January 2006 - A motion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill was lost 288-278
• 31 January 2006 - Another motion on a Lord amendment to the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill was lost by one vote.
• 12 July 2006 - a vote to adjourn the Commons early in protest at a UK-US extradition treaty was lost 245-3. However the Government abstained the whip when it became apparent that many Government MPs would have broken the whip.

Brown

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown

James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...

's government suffered three defeats in the House of Commons during its three years in office.

• 29 April 2009 - A motion to retain wording of a Liberal Democrat
  Liberal Democrats
  The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
  
   motion calling for the withdrawal of eligibility guidelines which allowed some Gurkhas to live in the United Kingdom
  United Kingdom
  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
  
   was lost by 276-246.
• 25 June 2009 - A motion to authorise the East Midlands
  East Midlands
  The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
  
   regional grand committee to meet in Nottingham
  Nottingham
  Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
  
   during September 2009 was defeated by 104-98.
• 1 July 2009 - The House of Commons, during a Committee of the Whole House
  Committee of the Whole House
  In the United Kingdom House of Commons, the Committee of the Whole House is used instead of a standing committee for the clause-by-clause debate of important or contentious bills...
  
  , voted down Clause 10 of the Parliamentary Standards Bill
  Parliamentary Standards Act 2009
  The Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that entered into force in part on 21 July 2009, largely as a response to the Parliamentary expenses scandal...
  
  , which had been introduced following the Parliamentary expenses scandal
  United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
  The United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal was a major political scandal triggered by the leak and subsequent publication by the Telegraph Group in 2009 of expense claims made by members of the United Kingdom Parliament over several years...
  
  . The clause, which was defeated by 250-247, would have legislated that parliamentary privilege
  Parliamentary privilege
  Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
  
   could not be used to prevent the Parliamentary Standards Authority from carrying out investigations against Members of Parliament.

External links

• Government defeats in the House of Lords