In emotional scenes, MPs lined up to tell stories of the pain and suffering of loved ones or their constituents during nearly five hours of debate on assisted dying
Assisted dying bill backed by MPs in historic vote
MPs have voted by 330 votes to 275 in favour of a historic bid to change the law on assisted dying.
The Bill, brought forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, would allow allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live to end their lives, subject to the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge. The legislation, which passed second reading with a majority of 55, will undergo further scrutiny in the Commons, and eventually the Lords, before it can become law.
Keir Starmer voted in favour of assisted dying, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Defence Secretary John Healey and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall. Cabinet Ministers Angela Rayner, David Lammy, Shabana Mahmood, Wes Streeting, Bridget Phillipson and Jonathan Reynolds opposed the Bill.
Rishi Sunak voted in favour but his successor Kemi Badenoch opposed it, as did Lib Dem leader Ed Davey.
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Speaking afterwards, Ms Leadbeater said her late sister, the MP Jo Cox who was murdered in her constituency in 2016, would have been proud to see the bill pass its second reading.
Emotions ran high during the debate as Ms Leadbeater recounted stories of people who had watched their loved ones suffer painful and drawn-out deaths. She told MPs: “I know that this is not easy. It certainly hasn’t been easy for me. But if any of us wanted an easy life, I’m afraid we are in the wrong place. It is our job to address complex issues and make difficult decisions.
“And I know for many people this is a very difficult decision. But our job is also to address the issues that matter to people, and after nearly a decade since this subject was debated on the floor of the House, many would say this debate is long overdue.”
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More than 160 MPs had signed up to speak during the debate, with emotional scenes as they lined up to tell stories of the pain and suffering of loved ones or their constituents.
Tory MP Alicia Kearns said her mother’s experience of cancer made her support assisted dying – and argued it was wrong not to give people the choice. But Labour MP Florence Eshalomi fought back tears as she described how her late mother “wanted to live” despite her chronic illness.
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