Assisted dying takes huge step towards becoming law after MPs vote to back bill
One of the biggest social shifts in the UK this century is another step closer, after MPs chose to give their backing to a bill legalising assisted dying.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will now progress through to the House of Lords, where it will be scrutinised by peers.
The House of Commons had already signalled approval to the proposals in principle after a historic vote last November.
But today’s Third Reading vote showed MPs are satisfied with the bill as it appears – including amendments added over the past few months – and would be happy to see it become a reality.
A total of 314 MPs voted in favour of the bill with 291 against, a majority of 23.
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As the Lords typically can only delay a bill or send it back to the Commons for revisions, it is now significantly more likely that assisted dying will ultimately be legalised in England and Wales.
Today’s vote is a major victory for campaigners and for Leadbeater, who introduced the proposals as a private members’ bill just three months after last year’s general election.
The Yorkshire MP – who represents the area once served by her murdered older sister Jo Cox – has become a full-throated champion of assisted dying since being convinced to adopt the cause for her bill.
What are the main measures in the assisted dying bill?
Kim Leadbeater has said she deliberately named her proposal the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to ensure it only ever applies to people who can no longer be treated.
It would apply to people in England and Wales aged over 18 who:
- have an untreatable, inevitably progressive illness or disease and are expected to live no longer than six months
- have the mental capacity to make a decision, and a clear, settled and informed wish to end their own life
- have not been coerced or pressured by any other person into making that decision
- have made two separate declarations, signed and unsigned, about their wish to die
Two separate doctors would need to make assessments that the person is eligible, and applications would be reviewed by a panel including a senior legal figure, a psychiatrist and a social worker.
‘Periods of reflection’ – the first lasting seven days, the second lasting 14 – would be built into the process.
If the person gets to the end of the process, they would then administer the fatal substance themselves.
In a press conference yesterday, Leadbeater said: ‘I’ve spent a lot of time working with doctors in Australia, America, in other jurisdictions where they have safe, effective, compassionate assisted dying laws.
‘They really can’t comprehend why we are so far behind the curve on this.
‘It works, and it is safe and it provides dignity and choice for terminally ill people.’
Asked by Metro whether she would fight any future efforts to broaden the scope of the legislation if it was to pass into law, she said any changes ‘would be a matter for another Parliament’.
Hear from those in support of the bill
Barry Gleeson, who has been given an incurable cancer diagnosis, and watched his own wife suffer a painful death says:
‘When I was diagnosed in January 2020, I made a clear decision: No chemotherapy. Not after seeing what it did to Sheila.
‘In 2017, I started researching assisted dying and joined a Swiss organisation, lifecircle, that helps people end their lives peacefully and legally, which has provided some comfort that I won’t face what Sheila faced.
‘[This bill] is not about encouraging death – it’s about giving people the choice to die with compassion. Polling shows that 75% of the British public support this, so why is it still up for debate?
‘Some people oppose it for religious or moral reasons. I respect that – for them. But their beliefs shouldn’t get to decide how I die.
‘If you’ve never sat beside someone who’s screaming in pain for months, it’s easy to talk about hope and palliative care.
‘But for some, like Sheila, even the best hospice care isn’t enough.
‘If the law changes, I’ll be able to live the rest of my life with peace of mind. Not because I’m in a rush to die, but because I’ll know that I don’t have to suffer. That I won’t have to put my family through what I went through with Sheila.’
Read Barry’s full story here
Among the bill’s other supporters is Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who told reporters his stance is ‘long-standing and well-known’ earlier this week.
Downing Street was very tight lipped about whether he would be casting a vote on assisted dying today.
However, he was spotted in the chamber and later taking part in the vote earlier this afternoon.
Its critics included Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood – both of whom would be instrumental in enacting the plans.
Former PM Gordon Brown also intervened in the debate, arguing the focus should be placed on improving palliative care in an article for the Guardian.
He wrote: ‘MPs are being asked to pass a bill in the full knowledge that, whenever it is implemented, the services available to all those who would prefer assisted living to assisted dying are inadequate.’
Polls have shown the public is broadly in favour of legalising assisted dying.
Findings published by YouGov on the eve of the vote revealed almost three-quarters (73%) of Brits support the measures currently included in the bill, with 16% opposed.
How have campaigners reacted to the news?
Campaigning groups My Death, My Decision and Humanists UK said they all welcomed the result.
Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK, 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.’
Louise Shackleton, who accompanied her husband, Anthony, to Switzerland for an assisted death after he had been suffering from motor neurone disease for six years.
She said: ‘Today the majority of MPs have done the right thing. They listened with compassion, and they chose dignity over fear. I’m so relieved that other families won’t have to go through what Anthony and I did, forced to leave our home, our loved ones, and our country just so he could have a peaceful death.
‘This law means that people facing unimaginable illnesses will finally have a choice. It means their final days can be filled with love, not fear; with family, not police interviews. I promised Anthony I’d fight for this, and today I can say we’ve been heard.’
Christian Action Research and Education (CARE), who campaigned against the bill, rejected the vote by MPs.
Speaking after the result was announced in parliament, Ross Hendy, CEO of CARE, said: ‘This vote for assisted suicide is a blow to human dignity and people whose legitimate fears have been dismissed as irrelevant.
‘Legalising this practice would send a harmful message that lives marked by illness and disability are not worth living, and lead to abuses against vulnerable and marginalised members of society: lonely elderly people, disabled people, victims of domestic abuse and others. Those who advocate for these groups will be feeling anxious and angry.
‘We will continue to fight this Bill, along with many others.’
Opposition campaigners Right To Life UK said the Bill ‘still faces an uphill battle’ to get through the House of Lords.
Spokeswoman Catherine Robinson said: ‘Although the Bill passed the Commons today, momentum remains with its opponents, with support consistently falling every time MPs have considered it.
‘The Bill leaves the Commons lacking a majority, with fewer than half of all MPs voting for it at its final stage.
‘The Bill still faces an uphill battle to reach Royal Assent. We will be fighting it at every stage in the House of Lords.’
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