Assisted Dying Bill passes, taking it one step closer to legalization – with Keir among 330 MPs who voted for

MPs have backed plans to legalize assisted dying despite fears it could create a “national suicide service”.

The bill cleared its first parliamentary hurdle after MPs voted by 330 votes to 275, majority 55, to approve it on second reading.

The House of Commons considered the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillCredit: PA

Labor MP KIm Leadbeater is the bill’s sponsor.Credit: AFP

Activists from both sides gathered today in front of Parliament.Credit: Alamy

The Prime Minister, who had remained silent before the free vote, supported the bill.

But his cabinet was deeply divided on the issue: Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, David Lammy, Shabana Mahmood, Bridget Phillipson, Jonathan Reynolds, Annaliese Dodds and Darren Jones voted against.

Supporters argue that the proposals, which apply to terminally ill adults with less than six months to live, will give people greater control at the end of their lives.

This historic vote took place after hours of emotional exchanges, with more than 160 MPs vying to speak on this controversial issue.

Labor MP Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the bill, argued it was time to tackle the difficult subject of end-of-life care, calling the debate “long overdue”.

She described the assisted dying bill as a compassionate choice for people facing unbearable suffering, insisting it offers a holistic approach alongside palliative care.

She said: “This bill will give society a much better approach to end of life.

Meanwhile, opposition to the bill was fierce.

Conservative MP Danny Kruger, one of the main opponents of the bill, warned that Parliament was close to abandoning its role as protector of the vulnerable.

He urged MPs not to vote “out of desperation”, arguing that the debate should be the start of a conversation “about dying well, in which we have a better idea than a national suicide service”. .

All the hurdles you will have to overcome to end your life if the law on medical assistance in dying changes

YOU will have to jump through a number of hurdles to end your life if the UK’s law on assisted dying changes.

Assisted suicide is currently banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – punishable by a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
But a new bill drawn up by Labor MP Kim Leadbeater would allow terminally ill people to end their lives prematurely.
Here are all the obstacles that Leadbeater says will constitute “the strongest safeguards in the world” if the bill passes.
Who can apply?
Only people who are terminally ill and have less than six months to live will be able to resort to assisted suicide.
Patients will also have to be over 18 if Leadbeater’s bill becomes law.
The paperwork
Britons who wish to end their lives prematurely must demonstrate that they have the mental capacity to make the choice to end their lives.
They must also be deemed to have expressed a clear, determined and informed will, free from any coercion or pressure.
If the patient can prove this, they will then have to make two separate, attested and signed statements stating that they want to die.
Physician Approval
Two doctors must be independently satisfied that a person is eligible for medical assistance in dying.
Doctors should conduct their assessments at least seven days apart.
If both doctors approve the application separately, then the patient can approach the High Court.
“Reflection period”
There must be a 14-day “cooling off period” if the High Court decides the patient is eligible for assisted death.
If both doctors are still satisfied after the deadline, patients will be prescribed lethal drugs.

Mr Kruger is at odds with his mother, Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith, over the issue of assisted dying.

Dame Prue has expressed her support for a new lawcalling earlier this year for “less pearl-clutching” on the issue.

Labour’s Diane Abbott echoed his concerns, highlighting the UK’s insufficient funding for palliative care and warning that the legislation could cause dying patients to feel like a burden on their families.

The Mother of the House told the Commons: “If this bill passes, the NHS will be a 100% fully funded suicide service, but palliative care will only be 30% funded at best. »

Ms Abbott suggested she could see herself “in particular circumstances” with the feeling that she did not want to be a burden on others, as she spoke of wider concerns about how the dying might feel if assisted dying was legalized.

The debate also saw deeply personal contributions from MPs.

Former Conservative minister Andrew Mitchell revealed he changed his stance on the issue after hearing heartbreaking stories from voters about loved ones dying in agony.

He said he found himself with “tears streaming down my face” after listening to constituents “who spoke so clearly and with so much emotion about how their mother, their brother, their father or their child died in great pain and indignity.

In front of Parliament, activists from both sides gathered.

The bill will now move to committee stage, where MPs will be able to propose amendments.

Changes to the law are unlikely to come into force before 2026, but the vote marks a significant shift in the UK’s approach to assisted dying.

What does the new assisted dying bill contain that MPs are considering?

MPs have debated a groundbreaking new bill which could legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales.

Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill (End of Life) Adults Bill would allow those with less than six months to live to make the choice to end their lives.

To be eligible, people must have resided in England and Wales for at least a year, be registered with a GP and have the mental capacity to make a voluntary and informed decision, without coercion.

The proposed approach includes the production of two separate declarations, both signed and attested, the eligibility of which is confirmed by two independent doctors.

A High Court judge would also assess each case, taking into account, where necessary, comments from doctors, the individual and others.

Patients would then have at least 14 days to consider their decision, although this period could be reduced to 48 hours for those who are close to death.

Strict safeguards are included to prevent abuse, with up to 14 years in prison for anyone found guilty of pressuring or misleading a person to request assisted dying. Physicians’ participation is voluntary and only the patient can administer the medication, possibly via a device such as a button.

Ms Leadbeater expects it will take at least two years to implement the service if the bill becomes law. Data from countries with similar laws suggest that only a small number of deaths – between 0.5% and 3% – would benefit from assistance each year. The bill also imposes scrutiny, with regular reports from the Health Secretary and Chief Medical Officers to ensure appropriate oversight.

If MPs vote to approve the bill, it will move to committee stage for detailed review and possible amendments. However, time constraints during Friday sessions could delay progress, and the bill faces opposition, with some MPs filing an amendment to block it altogether. The bill’s progress will depend on the outcome of Friday’s vote.