Assisted dying could become legal in England and Wales after the bill was backed by MPs in a historic vote.

Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 yes votes compared to 275 noes at its second reading in the House of Commons – a majority of 55.

It means the legislation will now progress to the committee stage for scrutiny, with the Lords also to be given opportunities to express their views on the measure before it potentially becomes law.

The bill would allow adults who are terminally ill with just six months left to live to request medical assistance to end their lives.

MPs were given a free vote – meaning they could side with their conscience and not along party lines, with the government staying neutral on the matter.

The division list showed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the proposal, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

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MPs debate assisted dying

Opening the debate on the topic, Labour backbencher Ms Leadbeater said it was about giving dying people “choice, autonomy, and dignity” – saying the current law was “failing” them.

The run-up to today’s vote drew strong emotions on both sides, with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood warning against a “slippery slope of death on demand” and Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressing concern about vulnerable people being coerced.

Pic: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Screen grab of Labour MP Kim Leadbetter opening the debate in favour of her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, in the chamber of the House of Commons in Westminster, London. Picture date: Friday November 29, 2024. MIME type: image/jpeg Width: 1920 Height: 1080 Copyright holder: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire
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Kim Leadbeater: PA

But other high-profile politicians, such as former prime minister Lord David Cameron, argued people in agony facing imminent death should be given the choice to shorten their suffering.

The proposal was brought forward as a private member’s bill, meaning it has been introduced by an MP who is not a government minister.

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Ms Leadbeater has insisted her bill contains “the most robust safeguards” of any assisted dying legislation in the word.

This includes two independent doctors having to approve the decision, followed by a high-court judge, with the person having to administer the drugs themselves.

The legislation includes a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying or taking the medicine.

“We are not talking about a choice between life or death – we are talking about giving people a choice about how to die,” Ms Leadbeater told MPs during the debate.

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