Speaker Denison's rule explained

Speaker Denison's rule is a constitutional convention established by John Evelyn Denison, who was Speaker of the British House of Commons from 1857 to 1872, regarding how the Speaker decides on their casting vote in the event of a tie in the number of votes cast in a division.

In 1867, when a tie arose on a motion on Fellowships at Trinity College, Dublin, Denison gave his casting vote against the motion, declaring that any decision must be approved by the majority. The rule as subsequently adopted is that the Speaker, in any division upon a bill, should vote to leave a bill in its existing form.

The principle is always to vote in favour of further debate, or, where it has been previously decided to have no further debate or in some specific instances, to vote in favour of the status quo.[1] [2] Thus, the Speaker will vote:

The thinking behind the rule is that change should only occur if an actual majority vote is in favour of the change.

Speaker Denison's rule is now a guiding principle in many other bodies that have neutral chairpersons.[3]

Tied votes in the British House of Commons

In the case of a Committee of the Whole House, the presiding officer is the Chairman of Ways and Means or a Deputy Chairman. In other cases of plenary session, the presiding officer is the Speaker or a Deputy Speaker. Votes of smaller Commons committees are not listed.

--This table is in chronological order-->
Date Presiding officer Issue Ayes and noes Position of casting vote Reference
10 May 1860Speaker Evelyn DenisonAmendment to the Fisheries (Scotland) Bill37No[4]
19 June 1861Speaker Evelyn DenisonMotion to give a third reading to the Church Rates Abolition Bill now rather than in six months274No[5]
1 July 1864Speaker Evelyn DenisonThird reading of the Tests Abolition (Oxford) Bill170Aye[6]
7 June 1866Speaker Evelyn DenisonMotion to adjourn debate on the motion that 'Mr. Speaker do leave the Chair' (and that the House go into Committee on the Test Abolition Act 1867)46Aye[7]
24 July 1867Speaker Evelyn DenisonMotion to declare the undesirability of restricting Fellowships and Foundation Scholarships of Trinity College, Dublin to believers in the established Church of Ireland108No[8]
10 June 1868Speaker Evelyn DenisonMotion to give a second reading to the Married Women's Property Bill now rather than in six months123Aye[9]
15 June 1870Speaker Evelyn DenisonMotion to put the question on the second reading of the Representation of the People Acts Amendment Bill181Aye[10]
25 July 1887Speaker Arthur PeelMotion to adjourn debate on the second reading of the Marriages Confirmation (Antwerp) Bill75Aye[11]
3 April 1905Speaker William Court GullyMotion for an instruction to the committee dealing with the London County Council (Tramways) Bill171No[12]
22 July 1910Speaker James LowtherReport stage amendment to the Regency Bill to restore words removed in Committee61Aye[13]
12 April 1938Speaker Edward FitzroyMotion for leave to bring in the Jewish Citizenship Bill (to extend Palestinian citizenship to Jews outside Mandatory Palestine)144Aye[14]
1 May 1950Chairman James MilnerMotion to reduce by £1000 the budget estimate for salaries in the Ministry of Transport278No[15]
1 March 1951Deputy Chairman Charles MacAndrewMotion that a clause stand part of the Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Training) Bill82Aye[16]
24 June 1952Deputy Speaker Charles MacAndrewMotion for leave to bring in the Licensing at Airports Bill173Aye[17]
12 March 1958Deputy Speaker Gordon ToucheMotion to add a new clause to the Maintenance Orders Bill153No[18]
2 June 1965Temporary Chairman Herbert ButcherMotion to retain wording of the Finance (No. 2) Bill281Aye[19]
27 May 1976Speaker George ThomasAmendment to a procedural motion relating to the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill303No[20]
10 November 1976Deputy Speaker Myer GalpernMotion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Dock Work Regulation Bill309Aye[21]
10 November 1976Speaker George ThomasMotion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Dock Work Regulation Bill310Aye[22]
10 November 1976Speaker George ThomasMotion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Dock Work Regulation Bill310Aye[23]
11 November 1976Deputy Speaker Myer GalpernMotion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Bill309Aye[24]
17 July 1978Deputy Speaker Godman IrvineMotion to disagree with a Lords amendment to the Scotland Bill286Aye[25]
30 January 1980Deputy Speaker Bernard WeatherillMotion for leave to bring in the Televising of Parliament Bill201Aye[26]
21 June 1990Deputy Speaker Sir Paul DeanReport stage amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill's amendment of the Abortion Act 1967197No[27]
22 July 1993Speaker Betty BoothroydTreaty of Maastricht (Social Protocol) – vote was later expunged317No[28]
3 April 2019Speaker John BercowBrexit indicative vote amendment310No[29] [30]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: MacDonagh, Michael. The Speaker of the House. 1914. Methuen. London. 74.
  2. Book: Factsheet P9: Divisions. 2010. House of Commons Information Office. London. 6. 11 May 2010. 27 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200727065838/https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-information-office/p09.pdf. live.
  3. Web site: Exercise of the Casting Vote of the Chair. Parliament of New South Wales. 15 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160615233855/https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/proceduralpublications/Pages/factsheetno18.aspx.
  4. Web site: Fisheries (Scotland) Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 16 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608095238/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1860-05-10/debates/4ecd7268-a364-485b-817c-130bd5ed6a9c/Fisheries(Scotland)Bill#contribution-fec318db-f0a0-48bb-841f-dc101e59ce72. live.
  5. Web site: Church Rates Abolition Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 16 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608084800/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1861-06-19/debates/1e0de996-8a5c-4acc-b321-da49e24e78b0/ThirdReading#contribution-7317e463-07e2-4771-a776-a80c208993bb. live.
  6. Web site: Tests Abolition (Oxford) Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 16 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608091608/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1864-07-01/debates/b4da75a3-0a22-451d-b26c-a822368479df/Bill18ThirdReading#contribution-c0b1c861-fe82-4c3e-b9e0-eac87677c995. live.
  7. Web site: Transubstantiation Etc. Declaration Abolition Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 16 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608061555/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1866-06-07/debates/6950af77-853b-45da-8c99-a3aa8f2c7339/Bill82Commute#contribution-a315d32f-8179-4229-a224-877c0e27e1f5. live.
  8. Web site: Trinity College (Dublin). Hansard – Parliament UK. 16 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608095327/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1867-07-24/debates/b0eff85a-b67d-4917-b9ab-671e287a535a/TrinityCollege(Dublin)#contribution-2183eeef-bb22-4167-a030-f02e34367cba. live.
  9. Web site: Married Women's Property Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 16 May 2019. 16 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190516234042/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1868-06-10/debates/1bc738a3-a9df-4b2f-8a7c-23d77e29cef9/Bill89SecondReading. live.
  10. Web site: Representation of the People Acts Amendment Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 16 May 2019. 16 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190516234047/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1870-06-15/debates/23158437-05b9-4e03-9968-e634eb4ce855/Bill28SecondReading. live.
  11. Web site: Marriages Confirmation (Antwerp) Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 16 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608084206/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1887-07-25/debates/465064fa-4c7d-45f4-82dc-5714ebd59796/SecondReading#contribution-56cff20d-9f19-4a73-8beb-967d952b9ff6. live.
  12. Web site: London County Council (Tramways) Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 16 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608084303/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1905-04-03/debates/93305914-7b2f-4f34-8439-eebc7727d104/LondonCountyCouncil(Tramways)BillByOrder#contribution-457deb46-70da-48d7-abd4-6abf7c6cab68. live.
  13. Web site: CLAUSE 4.—(Regent not entitled to give the Royal Assent to any Act altering the succession to the Crown, etc., 12 Will, 3. c. 2. 13 and 14 Chas. 2. c. 4) . Hansard - Parliament UK . 26 July 2023 . 26 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230726113143/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1910/jul/22/clause-4-regent-not-entitled-to-give-the#column_1716 . live .
  14. Web site: Jewish Citizenship Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 13 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608082221/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1938-04-12/debates/5b38209f-39c9-4876-8158-6ecc323cb464/JewishCitizenship#contribution-459864c7-21a0-4937-a7eb-6d6a92859d0a. live.
  15. Web site: Road Haulage. Hansard – Parliament UK. 13 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608090310/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1950-05-01/debates/e8481d11-f882-4058-902f-68d0697742b3/RoadHaulage#contribution-cc72aea1-47df-4503-a730-2a9d61625b38. live.
  16. Web site: Reserve and Auxiliary Forces (Training) Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 13 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608094651/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1951-03-01/debates/967d6d99-6839-4f8e-aa5b-4b0dcfe43782/Clause12%E2%80%94(ExtensionOfPartIToYears1952%E2%80%931954)#contribution-89d3c889-dfa3-40d6-8039-95a98f327921. live.
  17. Web site: Licensing at Airports Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 13 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608073353/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1952-06-24/debates/56a8eace-ff58-46f1-ab91-ff8922549ac2/LicensingAtAirports#contribution-fe68df05-81f2-4c4c-a00a-fe85b7fbdc18. live.
  18. Web site: Maintenance Orders Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 13 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608072621/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1958-03-12/debates/b2447cf3-83ed-4dd1-adf3-a9c9fdffc1b9/NewClause%E2%80%94(DischargeOfCommittalOrdersByMagistratesCourts)#contribution-cfe10459-d425-4c5f-925f-aada19e02d37. live.
  19. Web site: Finance (No. 2) Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 13 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608091134/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1965-06-02/debates/3947325c-6308-49f5-baa7-b2e128c8c093/Finance(No2)Bill#contribution-1f04114d-c4b6-4bc0-a688-e1a03b5bf3bf. live.
  20. Web site: Aircraft And Shipbuilding Industries Bill (Standing Orders). https://web.archive.org/web/20200713150245/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1976-05-27/debates/ac4141b0-da69-40bb-a392-bf7d02288b1f/AircraftAndShipbuildingIndustriesBill(StandingOrders)#contribution-8c1ea72a-03f3-46ed-b1b5-9c6f0dc4775f. 13 July 2020. Hansard - Parliament UK. live.
  21. Web site: Dock Work Regulation Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 13 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608091645/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1976-11-10/debates/1bc52f66-6b07-45e7-bd9f-69bcf8f65cd9/SecretaryOfStateToPrepareNewScheme#contribution-2eb9bb33-770a-4868-bec9-1f984b2b07a2. live.
  22. Web site: Dock Work Regulation Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 13 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608091645/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1976-11-10/debates/1bc52f66-6b07-45e7-bd9f-69bcf8f65cd9/SecretaryOfStateToPrepareNewScheme#contribution-23342289-e179-484f-a095-af90707509e9. live.
  23. Web site: Dock Work Regulation Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 13 May 2019. 8 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608091645/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1976-11-10/debates/1bc52f66-6b07-45e7-bd9f-69bcf8f65cd9/SecretaryOfStateToPrepareNewScheme#contribution-7964492b-8675-476e-b1a3-9c7df2ed201a. live.
  24. Web site: Aircraft And Shipbuilding Industries Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 4 April 2019. 4 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190404201459/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1976-11-11/debates/bf989f3a-f7b1-43dd-a667-76d342d27cc6/AircraftAndShipbuildingIndustriesBill#contribution-be427f6d-d441-4e7e-a962-b11a8d5b0e84. live.
  25. Web site: Scotland Bill. Hansard – Parliament UK. 3 April 2019. 3 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190403204124/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1978-07-17/debates/48e86243-191f-4a4a-b9c9-a5e6fd5979f6/ScotlandBill#contribution-cab30a4a-9cd3-43f8-80f6-b091b9e61cb4. live.
  26. Web site: Televising Of Parliament. Hansard – Parliament UK. 3 April 2019. 3 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190403203045/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1980-01-30/debates/7bc78f61-9381-4e5b-90b4-cdea9fc08a92/TelevisingOfParliament#contribution-227c65bc-212d-4268-ab34-6f077f4e8602. live.
  27. Web site: Amendment Of Law Relating To Termination Of Pregnancy. Hansard – Parliament UK. 3 April 2019. 3 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190403190355/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1990-06-21/debates/13c329d8-0276-4bd4-a127-b0994d9a244b/AmendmentOfLawRelatingToTerminationOfPregnancy#contribution-4ef0f000-618e-4c30-9a6d-f7209b4d09e1. live.
  28. Web site: Treaty of Maastricht (Social Protocol). Hansard – Parliament UK. 5 April 2019. 1 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190601094717/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1993/jul/22/treaty-of-maastricht-social-protocol#column_602. live.
  29. News: Brexit: Bercow uses casting vote after first Commons tie in 26 years to block backbench indicative votes – live news. The Guardian. 3 April 2019. 3 April 2019. 7 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107234659/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/apr/03/brexit-latest-news-live-may-corbyn-meeting-barclay-says-remorseless-logic-of-commons-numbers-is-pushing-uk-towards-softer-brexit-live-news. live. (See entries timed 17:22-17:52.)
  30. Web site: Business of the House. Hansard – Parliament UK. 14 April 2019. 10 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190410054903/https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-04-03/debates/8AAF1BEF-0694-4960-ACB8-F74CE53A3B94/BusinessOfTheHouse. live.

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