Assisted dying bill passes by 23 votes

MPs have narrowly voted in favour of the assisted dying bill, paving the way for the terminally ill in England and Wales to choose assisted dying. But a Labour peer has reportedly claimed some MPs admitted that while unhappy with the bill, they would vote it through and leave it to the Lords for thorough scrutiny.

The bill was passed with a majority of just 23, slashing the majority of 55 at the first vote last November by almost half. Since then, several amendments that would have increased safeguards within the bill have been rejected.

Under the draft bill as it now stands, a "qualifying individual" – someone with less than six months to live and has mental capacity – would be able to select assisted dying simply because they feel a burden to their family; they feel they’re a burden on public services; because they have depression or are suicidal; or simply for financial reasons.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said, ahead of the vote, that in its current form the bill does meet patients’ needs.

PoliticsHome, an online politics news platform, has reported that a “furious” Labour peer had “spoken to MPs who were unhappy with the detail… but were intending to vote it through on principle and leave it up to the Lords to carry out the thorough scrutiny later on. They described this approach as "extraordinary", arguing "it shouldn't be left to peers to improve such a consequential piece of legislation.”

After the vote, Evangelical Christian MP Tim Farron said on X: “The bill remains a grave threat to vulnerable people.”

Doctors will be able to choose to raise the option of assisted dying with an adult patient; care homes and hospices will not be able to opt out.

In today’s debate (20 June) many MPs, including those in favour of assisted dying in principle, expressed grave concerns about the lack of protections for the vulnerable.

Several MPs most ardently in favour of the bill appeared to rely more on personal experience and anecdotes than principle to support their case, while others stated they were voting for it rather than maintain the ‘status quo’.

The bill will now go to the Lords for further scrutiny where peers could reject the bill and send it back to the Commons.

Ciaràn Kelly, director of The Christian Institute, said following the vote: “Christians will feel grieved that MPs have shown so little regard for the dignity of human life, so little compassion for the concerns of vulnerable groups, and so little respect for the testimony of medical experts.

“But we must not give up. We must continue to pray. And we must now look to the House of Lords, where we can expect better scrutiny of this dangerous and unworkable Bill.”

A spokesperson for the Evangelical Alliance said: “In supporting Kim Leadbeater's assisted suicide law, MPs have failed to stop a dangerous, unworkable and immoral policy. This law, if supported by the House of Lords, will undermine the value of life and place vulnerable people at greater risk.

"Politicians have not listened to the chorus of concerns, from across the political divide, from experts in every relevant field that this law should not be passed. There is an urgent need to improve end of life care and in supporting this law that will be undermined.

"The Evangelical Alliance will continue our work to stop this legislation, and call on the House of Lords to give it maximum scrutiny and make up for the failure of MPs to have the time to fully consider most of the amendments proposed."

Minutes after the vote, the bill's sponsor Kim Leadbeater told the BBC she was "delighted".