Summary

Media caption,

Watch the moment MPs back the bill

  1. Analysis

    Majority more than halved since last votepublished at 14:35 British Summer Time

    Helen Catt
    Political correspondent

    The expectation had been that this vote would be tighter than last time, when it passed by 55.

    That was largely based on a number of MPs having already publicly switched away from supporting it.

    It is quite a sizeable drop, though; the majority has more than halved.

    That might be something the bill’s supporters will take on board as they now prepare to take it through the House of Lords

  2. Vote passed with majority of 23published at 14:34 British Summer Time

    Here's the breakdown of the vote - we'll find out shortly how each MP voted.

    A bar chart showing the number of MPs voting for and against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill for England and Wales. The bill passed, with 314 MPs voting in favour compared with 291 MPs voting against.
  3. It's now likely this bill will become lawpublished at 14:33 British Summer Time

    Chris Mason
    Political editor

    Take a step back, and it has been quite a few days.

    This has been a week at Westminster that has seen two decisions that point to a profound, socially liberal shift.

    Just a few days ago, MPs voted to change abortion legislation to stop women in England and Wales being prosecuted for ending their pregnancy.

    And now, the Commons has backed a change in the law in England and Wales to allow assisted dying, or, as some opponents call it, assisted suicide.

    This vote doesn’t guarantee this will happen - it will head next to the House of Lords - but it is now likely, even highly likely.

    It is a colossal social change, compared by many to the Abortion Act of 1967, the abolition of capital punishment, the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the introduction of gay marriage.

    MPs had a free vote in both of this week’s votes.

    But it is also true that the change in the composition of the Commons at the general election – and, in particular, the arrival of hundreds of new Labour MPs – has created the climate and the mood in Parliament that has allowed both these votes to pass.

  4. Assisted dying bill clears Commonspublished at 14:30 British Summer Time
    Breaking

    Media caption,

    The moment MPs back legalising assisted dying in England and Wales

    MPs in the House of Commons have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, with 314 votes in favour and 291 against.

    The bill will need to pass through the House of Lords next before it becomes law.

  5. Starmer spotted in Commons to cast votepublished at 14:20 British Summer Time

    Brian Wheeler
    Political reporter

    Downing Street has been very tight lipped today about whether Keir Starmer would be casting a vote on assisted dying.

    But the PM was in the chamber to watch the closing speeches and is now taking part in the vote.

    He has always been scrupulous in stressing that it is a free vote, but equally clear that he is in favour of the bill - he voted for it last time and it looks like he will be doing so again.

  6. Debate in Commons ends, MPs are votingpublished at 14:15 British Summer Time
    Breaking

    After about three hours, the debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has come to an end in the Commons.

    MPs are now casting their votes.

    We'll bring you the results as soon as we have them - we expect them within the next 15 minutes.

  7. Vulnerable people may feel pressure to proceed with assisted dying - Tory MPpublished at 14:12 British Summer Time

    Conservative MP Dr Neil Hudson stands to speak to the House.

    He says that the bill leaves him with many concerns.

    Hudson says he's worried that vulnerable people will feel a pressure to proceed down the assisted dying path.

    He also highlights his concerns about the pressure it puts on medical practitioners.

    Much of the palliative care sector is being left to charity in terms of funding, Hudson says.

    The Tory MP adds that he thinks it is not right that the state funds how we come in to this life but not how we leave it.

  8. MP dismisses concerns over NHSpublished at 14:08 British Summer Time

    We're now hearing from Labour MP Lewis Atkinson in the Commons, who dismisses concerns about the National Health Service being unable to deliver on assisted dying services.

    He argues that the NHS has shown over the decades it can safely implement change.

    Atkinson says terminally-ill people can say "doctor, I want to die, turn off this machine" - saying measures under the Mental Care Act allow for this decision to be carried out.

    He says the bill introduces further safeguards, adding that "this is not about the state killing people".

  9. Bill will provide choice to those suffering at end of life, MP sayspublished at 14:06 British Summer Time

    Christine Jardine in red blazer and leopard-print top speaks in the commonsImage source, UK Parliament

    Edinburgh West Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine says she "firmly believes" the bill will provide choice to those who are "suffering at the end of life".

    She says the committee has gone to "extreme lengths" to put safeguards in place in the bill, ending her speech by offering her support for the bill.

  10. The NHS isn't ready to bear weight of system we're voting for - Labour MPpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time

    Labour MP Matthew Patrick is up next.

    He says that opponents of the bill have worked tirelessly to voice their concerns.

    Patrick says the vote before them is on a system and the consequences of getting this wrong are severe.

    If the NHS is not able to provide the highest-quality palliative care currently, would assisted dying approve that or create a one-sided choice for people, he asks.

    Patrick says that he does not believe the NHS is ready to bear the weight of the system we are voting for now.

    He says he's also not convinced on the issue of coercion. Patrick adds that he is worried about the 'quiet, imperceptible' kind of coercion that could emerge if the bill was to go ahead.

  11. The bill's safeguards are 'inadequate' - Conservative MPpublished at 14:02 British Summer Time

    Dr Ben Spencer MP in a dark blue suit, white shirt and pink tie holding papers in his left hand as he delivers a speech in the CommonsImage source, UK Parliament

    Speaking now is Conservative MP Dr Ben Spencer, who calls the bill's safeguards "inadequate".

    He agrees that some terminally-ill patients will benefit from the measures included in the bill but argues there are others "who will be harmed".

    These include people in care homes, those who are feeling like, or made to feel like, a burden and people who are abused, Spencer says.

    "The question before us today is do we believe this harm for the vulnerable is worth it?" he says. "I say not. I say vote down this bill."

  12. We must do better for dying people, MP sayspublished at 13:58 British Summer Time

    "The status quo is failing people each and every day," says MP Paula Barker as members continue to debate the assisted dying bill in the Commons.

    She says that all sides of the debate have "accepted" that "we can and must do better" for dying people and their loved ones.

    The Liverpool Wavertree MP says that until the law changes, dying people are "suffering unbearably" at the end of their lives.

    Barker says she's pleased the bill has brought about a "long overdue discussion" on palliative care, adding that she hopes MPs will continue to discuss how to improve it.

  13. Social workers' inclusion has made the bill stronger - Lib Dem MPpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time

    Lib Dem MP Sarah Green in black dress with small white polka dots speaks in the Commons, three colleagues sitting on the green leather benches behind herImage source, UK Parliament

    Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Green is up next.

    Green says she voted for the bill at the second reading.

    She says it was because a constituent told her the current system is cruel and she faced the uncertainty of a police investigation for taking her husband to Dignitas.

    Green says the inclusion of social workers in the bill has made the bill stronger.

  14. MP says bill will have 'undesirable consequences'published at 13:55 British Summer Time

    We're now hearing from Labour MP Jess Asato, who says that if the bill advances today "there will be unintended and undesirable consequences".

    The Lowestoft MP says she's concerned about coercion being used in assisted dying, adding that she believes the bill will "create harm".

    She adds that even if this bill "implemented gold standard training", health professionals would not be able to identify everyone.

    "There can be no room for human error or doubt."

  15. The NHS is creaking at the seams - Lib Dem MPpublished at 13:54 British Summer Time

    Munira Wilson in a forest green blazer and floral black dress stands to speak, Lib Dem Tim Farron sitting on the Commons benches to her left

    Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson says she recently watched a close friend become "unable to perform the most basic of human functions", describing the experience as "utterly devastating".

    Wilson says several MPs want to ensure terminally-ill people have the chance to "manage how they leave this world".

    But she says the NHS is "nowhere near giving people that choice; it is absolutely creaking at the seams".

  16. 'There will never be unanimity on this issue'published at 13:53 British Summer Time

    Labour MP John McDonnell is up next, he says there will never be unanimity on this issue.

    He adds that including the disability advisory group was a huge breakthrough for the House and that the four year implementation schedule is important.

    McDonnell tells the House that this is not a choice between palliative care and assisted dying.

  17. 'I don't believe this is the end of the conversation on death', bill opposer sayspublished at 13:48 British Summer Time

    Wendy Morton in black blazer and shirt standing up holding papers in her right handImage source, UK Parliament

    We're now hearing from Conservative MP Wendy Morton, who says she fears the bill would be "extended and extended" because of what she's seen happen to other countries that have legalised assisted dying.

    She adds that we have to "come to terms" with debating death. She says she doesn't believe today is the "end" of the conversation.

    Morton concludes that she doesn't believe the bill is in the "right place" to go forward to the House of Lords and adds that she will "vote against" it.

  18. MP surveyed opinions on assisted dying - results were splitpublished at 13:44 British Summer Time

    Labour MP David Burton-Sampson (centre) stands in a dark grey suit, white shirt and burgundy tie, papers clutched in his hands, several MPs sitting on the Commons' green leather benches around himImage source, UK Parliament

    "I believe in choice," Southend West and Leigh MP David Burton-Sampson tells the Commons.

    He says he launched a local survey asking his constituents' opinions, and notes they appear to be split on the issue.

    "While at this stage of my life I believe assisted dying is not for me, there are many who feel otherwise," he says, adding his concerns have been addressed and he will be supporting the bill.

  19. 'I've agonised over which way to vote' - MP tells Commonspublished at 13:40 British Summer Time

    As the debate continues, Conservative MP Nigel Huddleston admits that he has agonised over which way to vote on the issue of assisted dying.

    He says that he has significant concerns that assisted dying could be abused and expanded way beyond its original debate.

    Huddleston adds that a bill with stronger safeguards in the future may give him more confidence, but he says this bill does not.

    He adds that religious beliefs in this debate should be respected and not sneered at.

  20. MP criticises bill's 'lack of rigour and scrutiny'published at 13:34 British Summer Time

    Chi Onwura stands in beige and dark brown top, colleagues on leather green benches behind herImage source, UK Parliament

    We're now hearing from Labour MP Chi Onwura, who calls on colleagues not to back the bill as it's "without rigour or scrutiny necessary to make assisted dying work in practice".

    Onwura says "this is not your average bill," as it would "fundamentally" change the relationship between the citizen and the state as it allows the state to "take the life of the citizen - on request, yes - but that is still a huge change".