The result could pave the way for terminally ill adults given under six months to live to be allowed to end their own lives
By Bill Heaney
West Dunbartonshire Labour MP Douglas McAllister against the Assisted Dying Bill in the House of Commons today while Brendan O’Hara, the SNP MP for Argyll and Bute and South Lochaber, which includes Cardross, Helensburgh, Lomond and the Lochside peninsula, failed to record any vote at all.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Chancellor Rachel Reeves were among members of the Cabinet to vote in favour of a bill that could allow terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of less than six months to end their own lives.
Local MPs Brendan O’Hara and Douglas McAllister.
The assisted dying bill passed its first parliamentary hurdle as a majority of 55 MPs (330 to 275) supported the move.
Bishop John Keenan, the Bishop of Paisley and President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, pictured right, said: “This is a sad day for the sick, the vulnerable and the disabled in society.
“This vote strikes a blow against the foundational principle of medicine “do no harm”.
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak was also among those to back the bill. Senior members of the Cabinet to vote against it included deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, foreign secretary David Lammy and health secretary Wes Streeting. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also voted against.
The bill has a long way to go in the Commons before it becomes law – if that does happen – and will carry no weight in Scotland where a similar Bill has been put before the Holyrood parliament by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur.
There have been regular reports and informative articles by people on both sides of the argument in recent issues of The Dumbarton Democrat.
This was the first Commons vote on the issue in nearly a decade. It followed an emotional debate in the chamber, where MPs from both sides shared personal stories which had informed their decisions.
The bill will now face many more months of debate and scrutiny by MPs and peers, who could choose to amend it, with the approval of both Houses of Parliament required before it becomes law.
Supporters gathered outside Parliament wept and hugged each other as the result was announced.
Campaign group Dignity in Dying said the vote was a “historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people”.
Dame Esther Rantzen, one of the most high-profile campaigners for assisted dying, said she was “absolutely thrilled”.
The broadcaster, who has terminal lung cancer, said any change in the law would probably come too late to affect her personally.
But she said “future generations will be spared the ordeals we have to suffer at the moment” if the bill becomes law.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who put forward the bill, told the BBC she was “a bit overwhelmed” following the vote and it meant “a huge amount” to be able to tell campaigners the bill had passed its first parliamentary hurdle.
However, Conservative Danny Kruger, a leading opponent of the bill, said it could be defeated at a later stage if MPs’ concerns were not properly addressed.
He said many of his colleagues believed the bill was “very dangerous” and he hoped that if safeguards in the legislation were not strengthened they would choose to vote against it in the future.
MPs were given a free vote, meaning they could make a decision based on their own conscience rather than having to follow a party line.
More than 160 MPs requested to speak but far fewer got an opportunity to do so due to time constraints.
Speaking after MPs voted in favour of Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying bill in the UK Parliament, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, left, said: “I am delighted to see Kim Leadbeater’s bill pass its first parliamentary hurdle.
“This debate has shown the UK Parliament at its best with thoughtful contributions from across the House and a vote which shows a clear recognition that the present blanket ban on assisted dying does not work and that more choice, alongside excellent palliative care, is what dying people need.
“I would like to extend my personal congratulations to Kim Leadbeater who has led this debate with respect, compassion and integrity.
“It is important to note that this is not the end of the process. The bill will now get detailed consideration and everybody is going to have the opportunity to have their say.
“However, it is clear that today’s vote reflects the wishes of the UK public, who overwhelmingly back a change in the law to offer choice and compassion.
“I am confident that MSPs in the Scottish Parliament will do the same when they vote at Stage 1 on my Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.”