MPs have voted to pass the Terminally Ill Adults (End Of Life) Bill, allowing the assisted dying legislation to pass through to the next stages of scrutiny and amendment.
The bill was passed by a majority of 55 votes.
The vote followed five hours of debate this morning (November 29), with 175 MPs requesting to speak on the matter.
The bill was open to a “free vote”, meaning that the party whips did not dictate whether to support or oppose the bill. Individual MPs were free to vote based on their own values and opinions of their constituents, regardless of whether they are Labour, Tory, or otherwise.
Use the search bar to find how your MP voted on the bill.
Among the MPs who voted in favour of the bill were prime minister Keir Starmer, and his predecessor Rishi Sunak.
Meanwhile Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Mother of the House Diane Abbott were among those who voted against it.
The private members bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, was the first time MPs have been able to vote on assisted dying since 2015 when it was struck down 330 to 118.
At this morning’s debate, Ms Leadbeater insisted that this was the “beginning not the end” of the conversation around assisted dying.
At least 10 MPs who voted against assisted dying in 2015 supported the current bill, including Peter Dowd and Toby Perkins.
Some 45 MPs did not record a vote on today’s bill.
More Labour MPs supported their colleague’s bill (234) than voted against it (147). Though Labour leader Sir Starmer remained silent on his position before the debate, he voted in favour of the bill today.
Conservative MPs voted overwhelmingly against the bill, at 92 against and 23 for assisted dying. Those supporting the bill included former medical practitioner Neil Shastri-Hurst, and shadow cabinet ministers Mel Stride and Alicia Kearns.
Jeremy Hunt, who had a six-year stint as health secretary, quietly voted in favour of assisted dying after changing his view on the issue.
To be eligible for assisted dying under the proposed bill, a person has to be over 18 years old, have proven mental capacity, no more than six months left to live, and the consent of two medical professionals.
The assisted dying bill has sparked significant debate since it was introduced in mid-October, with strong advocates for and against the legislation.
The majority of Liberal Democrats voted to support the bill, with 61 votes in favour. Leader Ed Davey was among the 12 who voted against the legislation, saying that his experience with his dying mother inspired a focus on palliative care rather than assisted dying.
Even in smaller parties like Reform, the decision was highly individual, with three votes for and two against. While leader Nigel Farage voted assisted dying, saying it “gives him the shivers”, deputy leader Richard Tice was strongly in favour, along with Rupert Lowe following a mock “referendum” of constituents.
