MPs voted by 314 to 291 – a majority of 23 – in favour of a landmark bill to change the law on assisted dying in England and Wales in milestone moment in the Commons
MPs pass assisted dying bill at third reading
MPs today voted to back a landmark bill to change the law on assisted dying in England and Wales in historic moment in the Commons.
They voted by 314 in favour of the legislation to 291 against – a majority of 23 – as supporters of assisted dying jumped and hugged each other outside Parliament.
The crowd of around 100 people in Parliament Square, Westminster, erupted into cheers on Friday as the news of the vote was livestreamed over a speaker by campaigners from Dignity In Dying.
Keir Starmer and the Chancellor Rachel Reeves were among those MPs who voted in favour while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch voted against the plans.
Back in November, MPs voted by a majority of 55 to support the principle of changing the law, after the first debate on the issue in the Commons for almost a decade.
Today’s vote means the controversial legislation – spearheaded by the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater – will now pass to the House of Lords where it will be debated by peers.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill aims to give terminally ill people over the age 18 with just six months left to live the option to end their life early. Their decision must be “clear, settled and informed” at every stage – and free from coercion.
It must also be subject to approval by two doctors and an expert panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. Assisted dying is current banned and carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
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In the first Commons vote for almost a decade on the issue back in November, MPs voted by a majority of 55 to support the principle of changing the law.
Supporters and opponents of a change in the law gathered at Westminster early on Friday, holding placards saying “Let us choose” and “Don’t make doctors killers”. Ahead of the vote, Ms Leadbeater said it will “offer a compassionate and safe choice to terminally ill people who want to make it”.
But the Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft, who quit the government on Thursday evening over cuts to disability benefits, had urged MPs with doubts to reject the legislation.
Ms Foxcroft said: “I don’t claim that every disabled person opposes assisted dying, but I do claim that the vast majority of disabled people and their organisations oppose it.They need the health and social care system fixing first. They want us as parliamentarians to assist them to live, not to die.
“Disabled people’s voices matter in this debate, and yet, as I’ve watched the Bill progress, the absence of disabled people’s voices has been astonishing. They have wanted to engage. Indeed, they have been crying out to be included, yet the engagement has been negligible.”
Humanists UK said the yes vote marks a “significant step” to “ending that unnecessary and cruel suffering” of dying people
Andrew Copson, its chief executive, said: “The House of Commons has taken a historic step towards meeting the aspirations of the public, who overwhelmingly support having choice, dignity, and compassion at the end of their lives. We welcome this and now look forward to working with Lords on the legislation.
“MPs have finally recognised the fact that assisted dying is already happening in this country. People are travelling to Switzerland if they have the money and mobility to do so. Others are dying in traumatic circumstances by suicide. Many more are suffering greatly, even while receiving the best possible care. Today, we are a significant step closer to ending that unnecessary and cruel suffering and MPs should be commended for taking this step.”