Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill

Key Points

• Covers divorce, dissolution and separation for marriages and civil partnerships in England and Wales.
• Currently at the Commons’ report stage, with earlier consideration by the Lords (including a New Clause 1 vote in 2020).
• Accompanied by extensive official scrutiny documents (amendment papers, impact assessments, human rights memorandum, explanatory notes, etc.).
• Party positions on related votes show cross-party differences, with major parties largely opposing the changes in the recorded divisions.

Progress

The bill is progressing through Parliament and is currently at the Commons’ report stage. It has had prior scrutiny in the Lords, where a related New Clause 1 was defeated in June 2020 (31 Aye, 400 No).

Voting

In the Lords Committee on New Clause 1 (2020), the clause was defeated 400 to 31. In the Commons, party lines show Conservatives voting largely against (7 Aye, 68 No) and Labour (Co-op) voting against (0 Aye, 78 No); DUP supported (5 Aye, 0 No); other parties were mixed or opposed (Liberal Democrats 0 Aye, 5 No; Plaid Cymru 0 Aye, 2 No; Independents 0 Aye, 2 No; Sinn Féin and SNP listed as mixed).