Clause 7 - Concurrent jurisdiction

Armed Forces Bill – in the House of Commons at 5:15 pm on 13 July 2021.

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Votes in this debate

  • Division number 51
    A majority of MPs voted not to require allegations of murder, manslaughter, domestic violence, child abuse and rape by members of the armed services to generally be considered by civilian courts.

Amendment proposed: 1, page 4, line 27, at end insert—

‘guidance under subsection (3)(a) must provide for charges of murder, manslaughter, domestic violence, child abuse and rape to require specific consent by the Attorney General to be tried in court martial when the offences are alleged to have been committed in the United Kingdom, and

(b) if the Attorney General has not granted such consent, guidance under (3)(a) shall provide that charges as set out in section 4A(a) to be tried in civilian court only.”’.—(Stephanie Peacock.)

This amendment would ensure that the most serious crimes—murder, manslaughter, domestic violence, child abuse and rape—are tried in the civilian courts when committed in the UK unless the Attorney General has specifically consented for such crimes to be tried under courts martial.

Question put, That the amendment be made.

Division number 51 Armed Forces Bill — Clause 7 — Serious Crimes to be Tried in Civilian Courts

A majority of MPs voted not to require allegations of murder, manslaughter, domestic violence, child abuse and rape by members of the armed services to generally be considered by civilian courts.

Aye: 274 MPs

No: 360 MPs

Aye: A-Z by last name

Tellers

No: A-Z by last name

Tellers

Absent: 12 MPs

Absent: A-Z by last name

The House divided: Ayes 274, Noes 360.

Question accordingly negatived.

The list of Members currently certified as eligible for a proxy vote, and of the Members nominated as their proxy, is published at the end of today’s debates.