MPs vote in favour of historic bill after emotional debate

Summary

MPs have voted in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales - watch reaction live above and listen here
The historic vote, by 330 in favour to 275 against, comes after five hours of passionate debate during which MPs shared personal stories, while those against the bill called for better end-of-life care
The bill passing the first stage in the Commons means it will be followed by months of parliamentary scrutiny and approval before it becomes law
Analysis: This is a huge moment in British social policy, chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman writes
Meanwhile campaigners from both sides who had gathered at Westminster are reacting to the vote with tears of happiness and disappointment
Laws throughout the UK currently prevent people from asking for medical help to die and there are several requirements for a patient to be eligible under the proposals - read our explainer here

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Moment assisted dying bill vote result is announced

Live Reporting

Edited by Jenna Moon and Barbara Tasch

Personal stories inform politics around assisted dyingpublished at 06:48 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2024
Harry Farley
Political correspondent
I’ve been speaking to dozens of MPs over the last few weeks about their views on assisted dying. It is clear for many their positions are informed by personal experiences, as well as the arguments.
Catherine Fookes, the Labour MP for Monmouthshire since July, told me about her dad who died just over a year ago.
“Last year he became really ill. And he was given a terminal diagnosis. The last few days were incredibly difficult. He was in a lot of pain. It was really, really, really hard to see someone you really love going through that. He struggled to breathe.
“Seeing him like that made me realise that we need a change in the law. We need to be able to choose and that’s what I would like for other people.”
But similar experiences have led others to different conclusions.
Melanie Ward is another newly elected Labour MP. She also lost her dad to cancer. But she told me she’d be voting against assisted dying.
“This law would fundamentally change the relationship between a patient and their doctor.
“My dad died of terminal cancer a few years ago. I know that if, as would have been allowed under this law, his doctor had suggested to him that he should think about killing himself because he was terminally ill, that would have terrified him.”
We can expect to hear plenty more of these personal stories influencing political decisions in the debate today.
Dozens of MPs still making up their mindspublished at 06:38 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2024
Harry Farley
Political correspondent
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Kim Leadbeater, Labour MP and co-sponsor of the bill, says the UK’s current law is not fit for purpose
The organisers behind Kim Leadbeater’s bill claim that if everyone who has promised to vote in favour turns up to parliament and does so, they are confident it will pass.
But it’s really hard to know. With just hours to go, there are thought to be dozens of MPs still making up their minds.
Our BBC team in Westminster has been keeping a tally of MPs who have told us how they’ll vote, or have declared it publicly. We make it around 200 MPs in favour, with those against the bill roughly 30 to 40 behind that. But that accounts for just over half of the 650 MPs in the House of Commons. It leaves many whose positions we don’t know who could easily sway the vote one way or the other.
So we can’t be confident about which way it will go.
We’re expecting a vote around 14:30 GMT.
Would the bill cover all parts of the UK?published at 06:28 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2024
Michelle Roberts
Health editor
The law would apply to England and Wales. A separate bill is already under discussion in Scotland.
Meanwhile, politicians in Jersey and the Isle of Man have already backed plans to introduce assisted dying and the process to bring in legislation is under way.
What’s in the bill?published at 06:18 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2024
Michelle Roberts
Health editor
Image source, Getty Images
The bill - called the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - would make it legal for over-18s who are terminally ill to be given assistance to end their own life. But there are requirements:
- They must be resident of England and Wales and be registered with a GP for at least 12 months
- They must have the mental capacity to make the choice and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressure
- They must be expected to die within six months
- They must make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to die
- Two independent doctors must be satisfied the person is eligible - and there must be at least seven days between the doctors’ assessments
- A High Court judge must hear from at least one of the doctors and can also question the dying person, or anyone else they consider appropriate. There must be a further 14 days after the judge has made the ruling (although this can be shortened to 48 hours in some circumstances)
MPs to debate and vote on assisted dying billpublished at 06:17 Greenwich Mean Time 29 November 2024
Welcome to our live coverage ahead of a Commons debate and vote on a proposed law that would legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.
The current laws in the UK prevent people from asking for medical assistance to die.
But the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - if passed - could change the legal position in England and Wales and pave the way to give terminally ill over-18s the right to choose to end their life.
Unlike most bills brought to the Commons floor, the government is impartial on the issue and MPs have been given a free vote, which means they can make their own decision rather than follow party instructions.
The debate gets under way at 09:30 GMT and MPs will then vote on the measure later in the afternoon.
We'll be bringing you live updates and analysis throughout the day, so stay with us.