Assisted dying bill passes second reading by 55 votes

Result paves way for historic change in British social policy

- HOLLY BANCROFT, DAVID MADDOX

MPs have taken a historic step towards legalising assisted dying in England and Wales, by voting in favour of a bill that would support terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of six months or less to end their lives.

After five hours of intense and heartfelt debate, in which some members of parliament were brought to tears, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed in the House of Commons with 330 voting in favour and 275 against. The result was a bigger majority than many were predicting, after similar legislation was roundly defeated in 2015.

Under the terms of the bill, a terminally ill adult with a life expectancy of six months or less could seek assistance to end their life, provided that two doctors and a High Court judge approve their decision.

MPs were given a “free vote” on the issue, meaning they could vote according to their conscience and were not bound to follow a party line. While Sir Keir Starmer backed the bill, his government was split, with both of the cabinet ministers who would ultimately be responsible for implementing the legislation – health secretary Wes Streeting and justice secretary Shabana Mahmood – voting against.

The bill has some way to go before it becomes law, with more than 200 amendments already tabled in the Commons and the House of Lords, meaning it will be subject to intense scrutiny. Added to that, a number of MPs only gave qualified support at the second reading, with the proviso that they would not vote for it without significant amendment at its third reading.

Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP who put forward the bill, said it would “give society a much better approach towards end of life”, whereas Tory MP Danny Kruger argued that it would pave the way for a “state suicide service”.