Assisted dying bill vote latest: Esther Rantzen reacts to ‘extraordinary’ vote as MPs back historic legislation

The choice on assisted dying for people who find themselves terminally ailing with a life expectancy of six months or beneath was probably the most important Commons vote on social coverage since abortion was legalised within the Sixties. Full report:

The invoice has been agreed solely in precept, and has a protracted solution to go earlier than turning into legislation:

Right here is how a number of the notable names in Parliament voted:

Fifteen members of the Cupboard voted for the Invoice, together with the prime minister. Colleagues alongside him within the aye foyer included Chancellor Rachel Reeves and House Secretary Yvette Cooper, Vitality Secretary Ed Miliband and new Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

Eight voted towards, together with Well being Secretary Wes Streeting, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, International Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Girls and Equalities minister Anneliese Dodds.

Labour minister Emma Hardy voted in each the aye and no lobbies, and confirmed in a press release that she had registered a proper abstention.

Mr Lammy wrote on social media that he apprehensive that if the plans grew to become legislation “giant numbers of individuals from all backgrounds” would really feel strain of their closing days.

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak was among the many 23 Conservative MPs who backed the invoice. Writing for the Darlington and Stockton Instances – his constituency’s native paper – Mr Sunak wrote: “I imagine that, the place potential, we should always forestall struggling. I do know from talking and listening to lots of you, that too many individuals must undergo painful, traumatic, drawn-out deaths.

“These shifting, deeply private tales have left a profound impression on me.”

Opponents of assisted dying vowed to battle on after Kim Leadbeater’s Invoice handed its first Commons hurdle on Friday.

Conservative MP Danny Kruger, who led opposition to the Invoice throughout Friday’s debate, mentioned he was “disenchanted” however added that the vote was “merely to proceed the dialogue”.

He mentioned: “I used to be reassured that so many colleagues recognised that the Invoice may be very harmful, there’s a lot of issues with it they usually have mentioned they need to enhance it in committee.

“I need to assist them do this and I hope we will make substantial enhancements earlier than it comes again for third studying, and I hope that if it’s not adequate, if the safeguards should not strengthened, then colleagues will vote towards it earlier than it comes into legislation.”

The Invoice will now go earlier than a committee of MPs, who will perform line-by-line scrutiny of the laws and may suggest amendments.

Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, the Church of England’s lead bishop for healthcare, mentioned: “I’ve been deeply moved watching proceedings unfold within the Home of Commons as we speak.

“My prayers are with all those that have been affected, who’ve shared and heard their tales, and facilitated this debate.

“The Church of England believes that the compassionate response on the finish of life lies within the provision of top of the range palliative care companies to all who want them.

“Immediately’s vote nonetheless leaves the query of how this could possibly be applied in an overstretched and under-funded NHS, social care and authorized system.

“Safeguarding probably the most weak should be on the coronary heart of the approaching Parliamentary course of, as we speak’s vote just isn’t the tip of the controversy.”