Today the House of Commons voted on the Assisted Dying Bill.
The result was as follows:
270 MPs voted in favour, and 286 voted against – meaning that the Bill fell by 16 votes
I voted in favour of a change in the law.
As a majority voted against, the Bill will now fall and proceed no further.
You can watch my speech from the previous debate above.
I would like to thank the many constituents who contacted me about this issue. Many of you will be pleased with my decision, while some will be disappointed.
I know some will be upset with the outcome, while others are pleased.
This is one of the most sensitive and personal issues Parliament could consider. Over many months, I have spent many hours discussing, debating, and deliberating the principles, the practicalities, and the Parliamentary process. In the end, each MP had a binary choice: vote for or vote against (or not vote at all).
Ultimately, every MP must reach their own judgment and cast their vote accordingly.
Having considered all the arguments alongside my professional experience supporting patients at the end of their lives, I concluded that the current situation is not acceptable. For some people facing intolerable suffering at the end of their lives, there is little control over how that suffering ends. In some cases, the only alternative is to travel abroad for an assisted death, an option available only to those with the financial means and family support to do so.
During the debate in November 2024, I talked about the importance of such a debate, suggesting: “What is this House for if not to empower people, and to give them the tools to shape their lives and, yes, their deaths?” At the time, I said that the House had an opportunity to offer “choice to those who are facing the ultimate suffering”.
I believed that this Bill sought to provide a legal and medical framework, with safeguards, for circumstances that some families currently face – ultimately giving a person real choice.
I fully recognise that reasonable and principled people have reached different conclusions on this issue, and I respect those views and ultimately the vote.
Whatever people's position on assisted dying, I hope we can all agree on the importance of improving palliative and end-of-life care.
As Shadow Health Minister responsible for hospices and palliative care, I spent the last two years pressing the Government to do more in this area. I remain committed to ensuring that everyone approaching the end of life receives the care, dignity and support they deserve.
I will continue to urge the Government to improve palliative care and give end-of-life services the priority they need.
As always, I promised to be honest and open about the decisions I have taken as your MP and my reasons for doing so. If you have any further queries or questions, I would be happy to answer them. You can contact me here: [email protected]
