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MPs back assisted dying bill by majority of 23 MPs back assisted dying bill by majority of 23
(32 minutes later)
In an historic vote, MPs have approved a bill which gives terminally ill adults in England and Wales the right to end their own lives.In an historic vote, MPs have approved a bill which gives terminally ill adults in England and Wales the right to end their own lives.
The Terminally Ill Adults Bill, which was backed by 314 votes to 291, will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.The Terminally Ill Adults Bill, which was backed by 314 votes to 291, will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
The bill was backed by a majority of 23 MPs, representing a drop from the first time it was debated in November, when it passed by 55.The bill was backed by a majority of 23 MPs, representing a drop from the first time it was debated in November, when it passed by 55.
The vote came after an emotionally-charged debate which saw MPs recount personal stories of seeing friends and relatives die.The vote came after an emotionally-charged debate which saw MPs recount personal stories of seeing friends and relatives die.
MPs were given a free vote on the bill, meaning they did not have to follow their party's line.MPs were given a free vote on the bill, meaning they did not have to follow their party's line.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the measure, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch voted against. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the measure, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Health Secretary Wes Streeting voted against.
The bill had been proposed by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and speaking to the BBC after the vote she said she was "over the moon".The bill had been proposed by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and speaking to the BBC after the vote she said she was "over the moon".
"I know what this means for terminally ill people and their love ones.""I know what this means for terminally ill people and their love ones."
She said she was "100% confident" her bill contained sufficient safeguards. She added it had been a "particularly emotional week" because it marked nine years since the murder of her sister Jo Cox, who had been a Labour MP at the time.
Conservative MP Danny Kruger, has been a prominent opponent of the bill, said the majority had been cut in half adding: "It is clear support for this bill is ebbing away fast." "Jo used to say if good people don't step forward and come into politics then what do we end up with?
"And even though some of us feel quite out of place in this place at times we are here to make a difference and we're here to make positive change that society has asked us to do."
Critics of the bill have argued the bill risks people being coerced into seeking an assisted death but Leadbeater said she was "100% confident" sufficient safeguards. were in place.
Conservative MP Danny Kruger, who has been a prominent opponent of the bill, said the majority had been cut in half adding: "It is clear support for this bill is ebbing away fast."
He said he hoped the House of Lords would either reject the proposed legislation or "substantially strengthen it".He said he hoped the House of Lords would either reject the proposed legislation or "substantially strengthen it".
Before the vote, the House of Commons spent more than three hours debating the general principle of the bill. He argued it would not be unconstitutional for peers to block a bill, approved by the democratically-elected House of Commons, pointing out that it had not appeared in Labour's election manifesto.
Before the vote, the House of Commons spent more than three hours debating the general principles of the bill.
Conservative MP James Cleverly said he was struck by the number of medical professional bodies who were neutral on the principle of assisted dying but were opposed to the specific measures in the bill.Conservative MP James Cleverly said he was struck by the number of medical professional bodies who were neutral on the principle of assisted dying but were opposed to the specific measures in the bill.
"When the people upon whom we rely to deliver this say we are not ready... we should listen," he said."When the people upon whom we rely to deliver this say we are not ready... we should listen," he said.
He also disagreed with Leadbeater that it was a "now or never moment" arguing that there would be "plenty of opportunities" to return to the subject in the future. Speaking in favour, Labour MP Peter Prinsley said: "There is an absolute sanctity of human life, but we are not dealing with life or death - we are dealing with death or death.
Another Labour MP Peter Prinsley recounted his experience as a doctor and said he believed the bill would give terminally ill people "final peace of mind".
"There is an absolute sanctity of human life, but we are not dealing with life or death - we are dealing with death or death.
"For there is also a sanctity of human dignity and fundamental to that is surely choice - who we to deny that to the dying?""For there is also a sanctity of human dignity and fundamental to that is surely choice - who we to deny that to the dying?"
At the start of the day, MPs voted on a series of amendments that had been debated last week.At the start of the day, MPs voted on a series of amendments that had been debated last week.
These included a measure to close the so-called "anorexia loophole" which would stop people qualifying for assisted dying on the basis of life-threatening malnutrition.These included a measure to close the so-called "anorexia loophole" which would stop people qualifying for assisted dying on the basis of life-threatening malnutrition.
MPs backed that amendment as well as one requiring the government to publish a review of palliative care services within a year of the bill passing.MPs backed that amendment as well as one requiring the government to publish a review of palliative care services within a year of the bill passing.
Attempts to block access to assisted dying for people suffering mental health problems or because they feel "burdensome" was defeated by a majority of 53.Attempts to block access to assisted dying for people suffering mental health problems or because they feel "burdensome" was defeated by a majority of 53.
Campaigners from all sides were out in force as MPs started their debate, with many disabled and bereaved people wanting to have their voices heard.
George Fielding from Not Dead Yet said the bill is reckless and he believes it will "endanger, foreshorten and I would say kill the most vulnerable people in our society".
As someone with cerebral palsy, he believes the bill is "ableist" and many of those who end their own lives when they become disabled are experiencing "unprocessed hurt and trauma".
Sitting by a mock graveside in his wheelchair, George said: "We are giving people assistance to die before we give them assistance to live."
Emma Bray, who has Motor Neurone Disease, says she will stop eating and drinking next month to bring her life to an end
Mother-of-two Emma Bray has Motor Neurone Disease, which has progressed to the point she has now decided to end her own life.
She says she has no quality of life, and it's been terrible for her children to watch their mum in so much pain and losing all the joy she's had in her life.
Emma is unable to take pills unaided or travel to a different country, which would also be "a massive financial burden" to her family, so she has no better option.
She will stop eating and drinking next month to bring her life to an end, with her friends and family around her.
Emma says a change in the law will make no difference to her, but she is campaigning so others don't have to go through the same pain and suffering.
The family of Keith Fenton were standing with a placard of the former Squadron Sergeant Major in his Royal Engineers regalia.
His widow Sara explained she had told him she didn't want him to go to a clinic in Switzerland when he became very ill with Huntingdon's Disease, which he had already watched his father, sister and two brothers die of.
"He was becoming locked in his own body and unable to look after himself and, as a former soldier, he was a very proud man and found it hard to ask people to do things for him," she said.
"It was only when he tried and failed to commit suicide that I realised I was being selfish saying he couldn't go to Dignitas."
However, a group of nuns from the Sisters of Nazareth Mission holding a vigil against the bill urged MPs to prioritise palliative care and make better pain relief available to more people.
Sitting outside Westminster Abbey in quiet protest, Sister Doreen Cunningham held a sign reading "Let's care not kill".
She said: "How can you say whether someone is going to die within six months when doctors themselves find it hard?"