MPs back assisted dying bill in historic Commons vote

Today marked the first time the Bill was voted on in its entirety since last year's historic yes vote, when MPs supported the principle of assisted dying for England and Wales by a majority of 55.

Since that historic vote, however, a number of MPs changed their minds, citing a "watering down" of the protections the bill provides.

But despite this, MPs voted to pass the bill 314 to 291, giving the yes vote a majority of 23.

Today's vote means the bill will now be considered by the House of Lords.

Among those to support the bill was the Prime Minister himself, Keir Starmer.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch cast her vote in the “no” lobby, voting against plans to roll out assisted dying in the UK.

As it stands, the proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist.

Ahead of the vote, MPs on both sides of the debate delivered impassioned speeches pleading their cases.

Kim Leadbeater, the MP who brought the bill forward, told the Commons the assisted dying Bill "is not a choice between living and dying - it is a choice for terminally ill people about how they die".

The Labour MP added: "I fully appreciate that there are some colleagues who would never vote for any version of this Bill due to their own fundamental beliefs - be they religious or otherwise - and I am respectful of their views, despite disagreeing, but to those colleagues who are supportive of a change in the law but are hesitant about if now is the time - if we don't vote to change the law today - what does that mean?

"It means we will have many more years of heartbreaking stories from terminally ill people and their families, of pain and trauma, suicide attempts, PTSD, lonely trips to Switzerland, police investigations and everything else we have all heard over recent months."

Former Conservative minister James Cleverly said the bill is not a "now or never" decision on assisted dying, as he argued there will be "plenty of opportunities" in future.

During the tense Commons debate, a Tory MP acknowledged the significance of the moment but pushed back against the idea that rejecting the bill would shut down future reform.

"We must recognize this as an important moment," he said, "and while I respect [Kim Leadbeater], I disagree with her claim that it’s ‘now or never’—that voting against this bill means accepting the status quo. That simply isn’t true."

He argued that Parliament would have more opportunities to revisit the issue and stressed the need for deeper discussions on palliative care and end-of-life support. "This debate has energized us—and rightly so. We are duty-bound to have serious conversations about how we care for the dying, which is why I don’t fault her for bringing this forward."

As the final vote passed, emotions overflowed in the chamber. Several MPs, moved by the gravity of the decision, approached Leadbeater to shake her hand and express gratitude. Outside Parliament, supporters

enny Carruthers, a 57-year-old former NHS worker from Bath who was forced into early retirement due to debilitating illness, stood outside Parliament with tears streaming down her face. Overcome with emotion, she embraced fellow campaigners and whispered, "This means I can die holding my children’s hands."

Her words captured the raw relief felt by many as the historic bill passed—a reform that advocacy group My Death, My Decision called "a triumph of compassion over fear."

"Today, facts prevailed," said Carmen Sumadiwiria, a spokesperson for the organization. "This vote reflects what the public has long understood: that terminally ill adults deserve autonomy over their final moments. We thank the MPs who listened to evidence, reason, and the heartbreaking stories of those begging for this choice. Their courage has ignited hope across the country."

But opposition groups warned of dire consequences. Gordon Macdonald of Care Not Killing condemned the bill as "dangerously weakened," claiming it "strips away vital safeguards and leaves vulnerable people at risk of coercion."

For Jenny and thousands like her, however, the passage marks more than policy—it’s the difference between a traumatic end and a gentle farewell. "Now," she said, "I can face my final days without fear."