MPs have voted to back a bill legalising assisted dying in England and Wales by 314:291 votes, a majority of 23. This was lower than the 55 vote majority at the first vote in November, with many MPs switching sides to vote against, but not enough to stop the bill. The five hour Commons debate was emotionally charged and there were tears when the vote was announced.
Religious groups
Reaction from Catholic Church: @catholicEW The Bishops of England and Wales have been consistent and outspoken in their opposition to the legalisation of assisted suicide, and we are shocked and disappointed that MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
This week, Cardinal Vincent Nichols warned Catholic hospices and homes may close >>
Church of England bishops have consistently opposed assisted dying legislation. There has been no reaction yet from the Church of England, but before the vote it reposted the Bishop of London Sarah Mullaly: @churchofengland “The potential for abuse and uninformed or coerced decisions is enormous.” The Bishop of London has urged MPs to halt the passage of a bill legalising assisted suicide.
Muslim Council of Britain: The Assisted Dying Bill risks pressuring vulnerable people to end their lives and diverting resources from palliative care. The Muslim Council of Britain urges the House of Lords to reflect on the serious risks. >>
Second Church Estates Commissioner Marsha de Cordova @marshadecordova.bsky.social: I am deeply disappointed that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has passed its third reading. We must assist people to live not to die.
OPPOSITION
@giles_fraser The state can now kill you. And there are people celebrating this. The whole social fabric has been torn.
LibDem MP and committed Christian @timfarron On the train north after a good debate. The growth of expert opposition to the AD bill along with the slashing of its majority since second reading, makes me wonder if the Lords may feel that it’s legitimate to oppose it now? The bill remains a grave threat to vulnerable people.
Opponent Danny Kruger MP said the Lords should consider the loopholes and gaps in the bill. They have an obligation to introduce new safeguards or reject it outright. He told the BBC that it would be constitutionally legitimate for the Lords to reject the bill entirely as it wasn’t in the manifesto of any of the parties, was a private members bill and the Lords could say it was unworkable and push it back. He said, if enacted, there would be pressure to widen the bill it from day one >>
@ddhitchens “Senior peers have told Sky News they believe the bill will struggle to get through the Lords, because there’s strong support for leading opponent Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, the Paralympic champion.”
@DisRightsUK “We are devastated to hear of the passing of the Assisted Dying Bill by 23 votes today. We extend our solidarity to all the Disabled people, DPOs, campaigners and MPs who have worked together to oppose this bill.”
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who is against the assisted dying bill, told the BBC that she wanted to put forward amendments to the bill in the House of Lords to make it “as tight as possible” so that “there’s not the ability to coerce [people into choosing assisted dying] or for people to slip through the net”. She had heard from disabled people [who] are absolutely terrified.
SUPPORT
Humanists rejoiced: @andrewcopson We did it! A historic step towards meeting the aspirations of the public, who overwhelmingly support having choice, dignity, and compassion at the end of their lives. Now to the House of Lords!
Kim Leadbeater, MP who introduced the bill into the Commons, said she was over the moon: “I know what this means for terminally ill people and their loved ones.”
Dignity in Dying: This is a landmark moment for choice, compassion and dignity at the end of life >>
OTHER COMMENT
Hospice UK said: “Today’s decision by MPs represents a seismic change for end of life care in England and Wales and could have a huge impact on hospices. Read our full response >>
