Assisted dying bill: How did my MP vote?

3 hours ago

Get Expert Analysis From Westminster In Your Inbox

Subscribe For Your Free Westminster Update Email

I would appreciate receiving emails regarding promotions, events, and news from The Independent. Please take a look at our privacy policy.

Members of Parliament have voted in favor of the Terminally Ill Adults (End Of Life) Bill, enabling the assisted dying legislation to move forward to the next phases of review and modification.

The legislation was approved with a majority of 55 votes.

The decision came after a lengthy five-hour discussion earlier today (November 29), during which 175 Members of Parliament expressed their desire to contribute to the conversation.

The bill allowed for a “free vote,” which meant that party leaders didn’t control how members should vote. Each MP could decide how to vote based on their own beliefs and the views of the people they represent, regardless of their party affiliation, whether Labour, Conservative, or any other party.

Utilize the search feature to check how your Member of Parliament voted on the legislation.

Among the members of parliament who supported the bill were Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his predecessor Rishi Sunak.

At the same time, Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Kemi Badenoch, the head of the Conservative Party, and Diane Abbott, the longest-serving member of the House, were some of the individuals who opposed the measure.

The private members' bill, brought forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, marked the first occasion since 2015 that members of Parliament have had the chance to cast their votes on assisted dying. During the last vote in 2015, the proposal was rejected with a significant margin of 330 to 118.

During this morning's debate, Ms. Leadbeater emphasized that this is just the "start, not the conclusion" of the discussion about assisted dying.

A minimum of 10 Members of Parliament who opposed assisted dying in 2015 are now in favor of the new bill, among them are Peter Dowd and Toby Perkins.

Approximately 45 members of parliament did not cast their votes on the bill discussed today.

A greater number of Labour MPs backed their colleague's proposal (234) compared to those who opposed it (147). Although Labour leader Sir Starmer didn’t express his views ahead of the debate, he showed his support by voting for the bill today.

Conservative Members of Parliament largely opposed the bill, with 92 voting against it and only 23 in favor of assisted dying. Among the supporters were former doctor Neil Shastri-Hurst and shadow cabinet members Mel Stride and Alicia Kearns.

After serving as health secretary for six years, Jeremy Hunt discreetly cast his vote in support of assisted dying, having shifted his perspective on the matter.

To qualify for assisted dying according to the suggested legislation, an individual must be at least 18 years old, demonstrate clear mental ability, have no more than six months to live, and receive approval from two healthcare practitioners.

The assisted dying bill has generated considerable discussion since it was presented in mid-October, with passionate supporters and opponents of the law.

Most Liberal Democrats backed the bill, with 61 members voting in favor. However, Leader Ed Davey was one of the 12 who opposed the legislation, citing his experience with his mother in her final days as the reason for prioritizing palliative care over assisted dying.

In smaller parties such as Reform, the vote was quite personal, resulting in three votes in favor and two against the proposal. Leader Nigel Farage expressed his support for assisted dying, noting that it made him feel uneasy, while deputy leader Richard Tice was firmly in support of it. Rupert Lowe also backed the measure after conducting a mock "referendum" with their constituents.