Plain-English guide
What do "Aye" and "No" mean?
When MPs vote in the House of Commons, they vote "Aye" (yes) or "No". This short guide explains what those words mean, how a Commons vote actually works, and how to read the result.
Aye = yes, No = no
"Aye" is an old-fashioned word for yes. An MP voting Aye is in favour of whatever is being decided; an MP voting No is against it. Whichever side has more votes wins — so "the Ayes have it" means the motion passed, and "the Noes have it" means it was rejected. (In the House of Lords the same idea is expressed as "Content" and "Not Content".)
How a Commons vote works
Most questions are first decided "on the voices" — the Speaker asks those in favour to say "Aye" and those against to say "No", and judges which is louder. If that is unclear or challenged, the Speaker calls a division. MPs then leave the chamber and walk through one of two corridors, called lobbies — the Aye lobby or the No lobby — where clerks record each MP's name. That recorded walk-through is exactly why Ayes and Noes can show you, name by name, how every MP voted.
Tellers and "did not vote"
Four MPs act as tellers, counting the votes in each lobby. We flag them so they are not mistaken for ordinary votes. If an MP has no Aye or No recorded, we show "did not vote" — which can mean a deliberate abstention, but also absence, illness, ministerial duties, or being the Speaker. The record tells you what happened, not always why.
See it in practice
Now that you know what the words mean, look up the real records:
Common questions
What does 'Aye' mean in Parliament?
'Aye' means yes. In a House of Commons division, an MP who votes 'Aye' is voting in favour of the motion or question being put. (In the House of Lords the equivalent is 'Content'.)
What does 'No' mean in Parliament?
'No' means the MP is voting against the motion or question. The side with more votes wins: if the Ayes outnumber the Noes, the motion is agreed; if the Noes have it, the motion is rejected. (In the House of Lords the equivalent is 'Not Content'.)
What is a division in the House of Commons?
A division is a recorded vote. When the result of a voice vote is unclear or contested, the Speaker calls a division: MPs leave the chamber and walk through one of two corridors — the 'Aye' lobby or the 'No' lobby — where their names are recorded. This is why we have a name-by-name record of how each MP voted.
What is a teller?
Tellers are the MPs who count the votes in each lobby — two for the Ayes and two for the Noes. Their own vote is recorded but they are counting rather than expressing a fresh opinion, so tellers are flagged separately in the data.
Does 'did not vote' mean my MP abstained?
Not necessarily. 'Did not vote' simply means no Aye or No was recorded for that MP in that division. It can reflect a deliberate abstention, but also absence, illness, ministerial duties, being paired, or being the Speaker. The record alone does not say why.