Ten Minute Rule
The Ten Minute Rule is a procedure in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Parliament that enables a backbench Member of Parliament (MP) to introduce a private member's bill by delivering a speech of up to ten minutes outlining its purpose, followed by an optional opposing speech of similar duration from another MP.[1][2] This mechanism, governed by Standing Order No. 23, allows the proposing MP to seek the House's leave to bring in the bill, with the motion then put to a vote unless unopposed.[3] Typically scheduled twice weekly—once on Tuesdays and once on Wednesdays immediately after Question Time and any urgent questions—the rule provides backbenchers an opportunity to highlight policy issues or legislative ideas outside the main private members' bills ballot, though successful progression to full debate and enactment is rare.[2][4] Applications for slots are coordinated through party whips and the Public Bill Office, ensuring allocation to eligible MPs without government business interference.[5] While the procedure facilitates public scrutiny and parliamentary debate on niche or emerging topics, its brevity and timing limit substantive examination, often rendering it a tool for advocacy rather than legislative advancement, with few bills ever receiving royal assent.[4][6] This reflects the broader dynamics of private members' legislation, where procedural hurdles and limited time prioritize government priorities over individual MP initiatives.[7]Origins and Historical Context
Establishment of the Procedure
The Ten Minute Rule procedure operates under Standing Order No. 23 of the House of Commons, which authorizes private Members to table notices of motion seeking leave to introduce a bill. Upon acceptance of such a notice, the motion is moved immediately following Question Time on a Tuesday or Wednesday, enabling the sponsoring Member to deliver an explanatory statement advocating for the proposed legislation. By longstanding convention, this speech is restricted to no more than ten minutes to promote conciseness and prevent undue prolongation of proceedings.[3][8] An opposing Member may then intervene with a brief counter-statement, similarly limited to ten minutes, after which the motion is decided upon without amendment or further discussion. Approval grants the bill an unopposed first reading, allowing its formal introduction and printing, though subsequent stages typically require allocation of time on Fridays reserved for private Members' business. This framework emerged as part of the House's codified practices for private legislation, balancing opportunities for backbench initiative against the need for expeditious handling amid a crowded agenda.[9][1] The procedure's design reflects parliamentary efforts to accommodate individual proposals without disrupting government business, with the time constraint serving as a practical safeguard against abuse. Historical usage indicates its viability for advancing non-contentious or exploratory measures, as evidenced by over 60 bills originating under this route that progressed to enactment between 1945 and 2010.[4]Early Usage and Precedents
The Ten Minute Rule procedure was in active use by the early 1950s, providing backbench MPs a structured opportunity to advocate for private members' bills immediately after oral questions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In a House of Commons debate on 3 April 1950 concerning the allocation of private members' time, participants explicitly referenced bills introduced under the rule, observing that their path to enactment historically depended on securing further debate slots during Friday sittings, which were limited and competitive. This early discussion underscored the mechanism's role in permitting concise exposition—limited to approximately ten minutes—while revealing its challenges, as opposition or lack of time often prevented progression beyond introduction.[10] Precedents from this postwar period established the rule's utility for gauging parliamentary sentiment on niche or reformist proposals without committing extensive debate resources. Successful introductions typically occurred when motions faced no formal objection, allowing the bill to proceed to first reading, though advancement required subsequent support amid government priorities. The procedure thus served as a low-barrier entry for backbench initiatives, often highlighting policy gaps or public concerns, such as adjustments to planning or tenancy laws, mirroring broader patterns in private members' legislation where empirical support and minimal controversy determined viability.[10][7] Over subsequent decades, these early applications influenced its evolution into a staple for issue advocacy, with records indicating sporadic enactment of uncontroversial bills introduced via the rule post-1945, reinforcing its function as a diagnostic tool for legislative interest rather than a primary route to law.[11]Procedural Framework
Eligibility and Application Process
Any Member of Parliament (MP) is eligible to introduce a bill under the Ten Minute Rule, which serves as a mechanism for private members to propose legislation without entering the formal ballot for Private Members' Bills.[7][2] This procedure is particularly utilized by backbench MPs to highlight policy issues, though government ministers may technically participate but seldom do so in practice.[1] The application process begins with informal coordination through party whips to secure a slot, as two opportunities are available weekly: one on Tuesdays and one on Wednesdays, immediately following Question Time and any urgent questions or ministerial statements.[2][5] Applications open at 10:00 a.m. on the sitting day after the fifth Wednesday of the parliamentary session, with initial slots allocated on a first-come, first-served basis; subsequent bookings can be made up to 15 sitting days in advance.[5] No bill can be presented on Budget Day, with the next available slot deferred to the following Monday if applicable.[5] To apply, an MP must contact the Public Bill Office either in person or via email at pbohoc@parliament.uk, providing a short title (the bill's name) and a long title (a brief description of its purpose).[5] Optionally, the applicant may submit a list of up to 11 supporting MPs to demonstrate backing.[5] Upon approval of the slot, the Public Bill Office issues a dummy bill document, which the MP then uses to formally move the motion for leave to introduce the bill on the designated day.[5] This process ensures orderly scheduling while allowing MPs to advocate for legislative changes with minimal procedural barriers.[2]Speech and Opposition Mechanics
The Ten Minute Rule procedure, governed by Standing Order No. 23 of the House of Commons, commences with the sponsoring Member—typically a backbencher—introducing a motion for leave to bring in a bill through an explanatory speech limited to ten minutes.[1][3] This speech, delivered immediately after oral questions on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, must concisely articulate the bill's objectives, rationale, and proposed provisions without tabling the bill's text in advance or engaging in substantive debate.[4] The Speaker enforces the time limit strictly, intervening if exceeded, to ensure the slot's brevity amid the House's packed agenda.[1] Opposition to the motion is initiated by any Member rising immediately after the proponent's speech to signal intent to object, with the Speaker selecting a single opponent—often the first to catch the Chair's eye or one pre-arranged via party coordination.[12][3] The selected opponent delivers a counter-speech of up to ten minutes, focusing on why leave should not be granted, such as policy conflicts, resource implications, or redundancy with existing law, but without proposing amendments or extending into unrelated matters.[4][13] In practice, opposition is frequently orchestrated by government whips to block bills misaligned with executive priorities, rendering formal opposition a near-certain barrier unless cross-party support is assured.[4][6] Upon conclusion of the opposing speech, the Speaker puts the question—"That leave be given to bring in a Bill"—forthwith, without further debate, amendment, or division unless demanded, allowing the House to voice approval or rejection efficiently.[3][4] This mechanic prioritizes expedition, as the entire exchange, including both speeches, is confined to the eponymous ten-minute parliamentary window originally allocated, though expanded in convention to accommodate opposition.[1] No additional Members may intervene, underscoring the procedure's design for targeted advocacy rather than open discussion.[3]Voting and Introduction Outcomes
Following the proposer's speech of up to ten minutes and any opposing speech of equal length, the Speaker puts the question: "That leave be given to bring in a Bill."[4][14] If no Member objects by shouting "Object" or "No," the motion is agreed to without division, and the bill is introduced immediately, deemed to have passed its first reading.[4][14] In such cases, the proposer formally presents the bill at the Table of the House, after which it may be printed and scheduled for second reading, typically on the next sitting Friday unless otherwise arranged.[4] If an objection is raised, a division vote is held on the motion, with Members voting in the Aye or No lobbies; the proposer must nominate two tellers for the Aye side.[4][14] The Speaker announces the result based on the vote tally, and unprinted bills cannot proceed beyond this stage if negatived.[4] A successful motion results in the bill's introduction and first reading, allowing it to enter the legislative process, though progression to second reading is uncommon due to competition from ballot-drawn Private Members' Bills on Fridays.[14][1] If the motion is negatived, the bill cannot be introduced under this procedure and the matter ends without further consideration.[4][14]Usage Patterns and Statistics
Frequency of Introduction
The Ten Minute Rule procedure permits the introduction of up to two private member's bills each week in the House of Commons, with one motion typically presented on Tuesdays and another on Wednesdays immediately after Question Time and any urgent questions.[2] This scheduling aligns with the House's standing orders, providing backbench MPs a regular opportunity to propose legislation or highlight policy issues through a brief speech.[1] In practice, the frequency of successful introductions—where the motion secures the House's leave without opposition—results in dozens of bills per parliamentary session, reflecting substantial but not universal utilization of available slots. A typical session, spanning roughly one year with 150-160 sitting days, accommodates approximately 70-90 Ten Minute Rule bills, depending on recesses, prorogations, and MPs' demand. For example, 79 such bills were introduced in the 2019-2021 session, which was extended due to the 2019 general election and COVID-19 disruptions, while 86 were introduced in the 2022-2023 session.[15][16] These figures indicate consistent demand, as MPs table notices of motion in advance via the Public Bill Office, sometimes leading to competition for limited presentation opportunities.[17] Historical patterns show similar levels of usage, with the procedure serving as a staple for private legislation since its formalization, though exact counts prior to digital tracking are less precisely documented. The rule's twice-weekly cadence ensures it remains a frequent tool for backbenchers, distinct from the ballot system limited to 20 high-priority bills per session or the less prominent presentation bills.[4] Despite occasional underutilization during disrupted sessions, the overall frequency underscores its role in facilitating ad hoc legislative proposals without requiring a ballot draw.[6]Distribution by Political Parties
The Ten Minute Rule procedure is available to backbench MPs from all major parties, enabling them to introduce motions without ballot competition, though typically limited to one per party per week to maintain order. Usage reflects parliamentary arithmetic, with the governing party—possessing more backbenchers in majority parliaments—sponsoring the majority of motions in recent sessions. For instance, during the 2019–2024 Conservative administration, Conservative MPs introduced the bulk of the roughly 80–90 annual motions, often focusing on constituency-specific or supportive policy tweaks, while opposition parties leveraged the slot for critiques of government inaction.[4] In the 2022–23 session, 86 such bills were tabled, none advancing to law, illustrating the mechanism's role as a platform rather than a legislative pathway.[16] Opposition parties, including Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish National Party, frequently employ the rule to highlight alternative policies or expose perceived deficiencies in executive priorities, capitalizing on the immediate post-Question Time timing for media visibility. Examples include Labour MP Nesil Caliskan's 2025 motion on a Welsh language births and deaths registration bill, Liberal Democrat efforts like the 2024 proportional representation push by an unnamed sponsor that narrowly passed its initial vote (138–136), and SNP initiatives on devolved matters.[18][19] Smaller parties and independents occasionally participate when slots permit, though their lower numbers limit volume; the Democratic Unionist Party and Greens have tabled motions on regional or environmental issues in past sessions. Empirical analyses of parliamentary behavior indicate that partisanship influences usage, with opposition MPs more likely to pursue Ten Minute Rule introductions for personal vote cultivation through issue advocacy, distinct from ballot bills which attract cross-party support.[20]| Party | Typical Usage Focus | Example Sessions (Approximate Share in Majority Governments) |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative (governing, 2019–2024) | Local issues, minor reforms aligning with government | ~60–70% of motions in 2022–23 (inferred from backbench size)[16] |
| Labour (opposition) | Policy critiques, social welfare | ~20–25%, e.g., multiple 2025 motions[18] |
| Liberal Democrats | Electoral reform, civil liberties | ~5%, e.g., 2024 PR bill[21] |
| SNP | Devolution, Scottish interests | ~5–10% |
| Others (DUP, Green, etc.) | Niche/regional concerns | <5% |