Mixed reactions to assisted dying bill getting approval as two Derbyshire MPs vote against

Assisted dying could be legalised in England and Wales after a historic vote saw proposed legislation clear its first hurdle in Parliament. A majority of MPs, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, supported a bill that would allow terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of less than six months to end their lives.

MPs voted 330 to 275, majority 55, to approve Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at second reading. All but two of Derbyshire's all-Labour MPs voted in favour of the bill - Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) and Jonathan Davies (Mid Derbyshire) decided to vote against it.

The vote came at the end of four-and-a-half hours of debate as politicians on both sides made impassioned arguments for and against what has been described as a “major social reform”. Encouraging or assisting suicide is currently against the law in England and Wales, with a maximum jail sentence of 14 years.

Linsey Farnsworth MP for Amber Valley, who voted in favour of the bill, said: "I want thank all of you who wrote to me with your thoughts, concerns and experiences, especially those of you who shared very personal memories with me.

"I did not find this an easy decision to make. I carefully read the correspondence from constituents and listened to the arguments put forward in the debate today and beforehand. After reflecting on all the available evidence and personal testimony, I voted in favour of the bill."

Natalie Fleet, representing Bolsover, who also voted in favour of the bill, said: "After a great deal of deliberation, I voted to give people control and autonomy around the way they take their final moments. I understand that some will be disappointed with the decision I have come to, but please be assured I did not come to it lightly and like everyone of my colleagues, I did so as I believe it was the right thing to do."

Derby woman Sandra Heard who travelled to London to stand outside Parliament with a placard urging MPs to vote in favour, said: "Wow, just so relieved. Years of trying and at last a start on the process. I am now on the train home and my knees are aching after being there all day."

Disability rights campaigner Dr Amo Raju said that "anxiety levels amongst many disabled people are now at their highest". He added: "The bill has passed and whilst it is positive that a conversation about improved palliative care is imminent, MPs and Parliament must now put increased measures in place to consult with disability organisations to ensure the existing parameters of the bill are not ever stretched to include disabled people who may acquire an illness.

"Indeed I would go as far as saying there should be an amendment to state there should be no consideration of test cases. A primary concern is the potential for such legislation to inadvertently pressure disabled individuals into ending their lives prematurely.

"In 2022, my own father was in the latter stages of Parkinson's disease and had a heart attack, yet the consultant in A&E suggested a DNR (do not resuscitate) be applied as he was too weak to recover, making this statement right in front of him causing further distress.

"When he was moved to the ward, I had to fight for correct medical care as it was clear they did not understand his medical needs. Again, they were desperate to apply a DNR and my family resisted. He lived a further 14 months where he laughed and enjoyed time with his family. My point? I am not keen on bashing medical professionals, but they can get things wrong and often do. Any decision about life and quality of life should remain squarely with the individual."

Fifteen members of the Government cabinet, including the PM alongside Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper voted for the Bill.

Meanwhile eight voted against, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Women and Equalities minister Anneliese Dodds, while there was no vote recorded for Scotland Secretary Ian Murray. Former prime minister Rishi Sunak voted in support, while Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch voted against.

Meanwhile, one of the Bill’s most high-profile supporters, Dame Esther Rantzen, said she is “absolutely thrilled” with the result.

The Childline founder and broadcaster told the PA news agency: “I listened to the debate and it was very deeply felt. Members of Parliament, whether they opposed it or proposed it, had obviously given it a great deal of thought, and right up to the end of the debate, I had no idea whether it would be voted through or not.”

Pro-change organisation Dignity in Dying described the vote result as a “historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people”, while My Death, My Decision said “thousands of people will be heartened” by it.

But Christian Concern branded this a “very Black Friday for the vulnerable in this country”, and said the Bill “must be stopped at third reading”.

The bill will next go to committee stage where MPs can table amendments, and on Friday a motion was approved to allow the committee considering the Bill to have the power to send for people, papers and records as part of its sessions.

The Bill will face further scrutiny and votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest.

Some MPs indicated during the debate that their support for the bill might not continue at a further vote, if they are not convinced of the safeguards.

Ms Leadbeater has said it would likely be a further two years from then for an assisted dying service to be in place.