Pro-lifers ‘disappointed’ after MPs back assisted dying

MPs voted by 330 to 275 this afternoon to back a change in the law to legalise assisted dying.

The new law, which must now go through a lengthy process of scrutiny and amendment in committee stage, will allow adults who are terminally ill and expected to die within six months to ask for help to end their lives. Both houses will have to back the Bill before it can become law.

In the debate, the second reading of the Bill in which MPs were given a free vote and which lasted five hours, many delivered emotional testimonies of loved ones and others they knew who endured terrible suffering at the end of life.

Equally passionate speeches by opponents failed to swing the house to their side, prompting disappointment from faith groups and others who believe the Bill is flawed.

Of Labour MPs, 234 including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voted in favour and 147 against compared to 23 Conservatives who voted in favour including former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and 92 against including party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Introducing the Bill, Labour MP Kim Leadbetter told the story of former police officer James who waved his mum off as she embarked on her final trip, to Dignitas. She had terminal vasculitis. “James desperately wanted to accompany his mum and hold her hand during her final moments, but he knew, because of his job as a police officer, that it was just not possible. Indeed, she insisted that he must not go with her, so she went alone—no one to hold her hand, and no proper goodbye or funeral.”

She also told other storis of “heartbreaking reality and human suffering that far too many people experience as a result of the status quo”.

She argued that t is clear that public opinion is very much in favour of a change in the law. Polling shows consistently that around 75 per cent of people would like to see the legalisation of assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults.

“These findings are significant, but it may not be that surprising that most people believe, as I do, that we should all have the right to make the choices and decisions we want about our own bodies. Let us be clear: we are not talking about a choice between life or death; we are talking about giving dying people a choice of how to die,” she said.

Bishop John Sherrington, lead bishop for life issues, said: “We believe that this bill is flawed in principle and also contains particular clauses that are of concern. We ask the Catholic community to pray that members of parliament will have the wisdom to reject this bill at a later stage in its progress.

“In addition to being opposed to the principle of assisted suicide, we are particularly concerned with clauses in the bill that prevent doctors from properly exercising conscientious objection, provide inadequate protection to hospices and care homes that do not wish to participate in assisted suicide and allow doctors to initiate conversations about assisted suicide. We ask that these voices be heard in the next stages of the Bill to strengthen the deep concerns about this proposed legislation.”

Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of Care Not Killing, said: “We are naturally disappointed at the vote, but have been hugely encouraged that the more MPs hear about assisted suicide and euthanasia the more they turn against changing the law and rightly want the Government to focus on fixing the UK’s broken palliative care system.

“Indeed, as we heard from numerous MPs today fixing the palliative and social care systems should be the priority, rather than pressing ahead with a dangerous and ideological that will make many elderly, terminally ill and disabled people feel like a burden and end their lives prematurely, exactly as we see in the US state of Oregon, the model for this draft Bill.

Catherine Robinson of Right to Life said: “Although the Bill has passed Second Reading, the vote was far closer than commentators originally predicted and this is just the first stage of a long journey through the Commons, followed by the Lords, for this dangerous assisted suicide Bill before it becomes law. We are now going to redouble our efforts to ensure we fight this Bill at every stage and ensure that it is defeated to protect the most vulnerable.”

Gavin Calver, chief executive of the Evangelical Alliance, said: “I’m deeply disappointed parliament has voted to progress this bill to legalise assisted suicide. This is the biggest proposed change to our social fabric in a generation. Over recent weeks we have stood side by side with other faith groups, disability groups, medics, lawyers, and countless members of the public highlighting the significant shortcomings of this bill.  

“Sadly, this bill will normalise suicide in our society as a positive option and places the most vulnerable at risk of abuse and coercion. We will continue to work to ensure that the bill does not become law. Many of those who voted in favour expressed concerns about safeguards and the workability of the law. In the coming months, as the bill is considered further, we will continue to engage and hold MPs to account if their hopes for the bill’s improvement are not met.” 

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