BBC News: MPs Reject Assisted Dying Bill Despite Previous Votes in Favour
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An Extraordinary Result: MPs Reject Assisted Dying Bill Despite Previous Support
There were gasps and – to the irritation of supporters – cheers from opponents when the vote was read out in the Commons. This was an extraordinary result. After twice voting in favour, MPs have rejected proposals to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales, bringing the latest effort to change the law to an end.
The debate itself was tetchier and more irritable than when Kim Leadbeater introduced a similar bill in 2024. Then it was the first time MPs had voted on assisted dying in nine years. Since then, the Commons has debated this issue three times and spent hours discussing it. The sombre, respectful tone from 2024 has morphed into a more embittered atmosphere.
Both sides agree on why the result was different this time: "We always said it would come down to turnout, and it did", one supporter and an opponent messaged me.
The numbers tell a story. Last June, 315 MPs voted in favour of assisted dying and 291 against. Today, those opposed outnumbered supporters by a similar margin (286 opposed vs. 270 in favour), a fall of 45 votes.
So why did fewer MPs back the bill this time? There are several reasons:
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Changing Minds: Some MPs, like Janet Daby (Labour MP for Lewisham East), said they no longer felt comfortable voting for the bill after previously doing so.
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Andy Burnham’s Influence: For other Labour MPs wanting to align with Downing Street’s priorities, abstaining might have seemed a more appealing option.
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Absences: Some supportive MPs were absent due to weddings or trips to Ukraine, among other reasons.
Promoters of the bill are already promising another attempt, with Kim Leadbeater suggesting it could come as soon as next year. They see this parliament – with its significant number of Labour MPs supporting assisted dying – as a "unique moment" for change.
However, for now, momentum towards legalising assisted dying has stalled. This is a relief to those concerned about potential harm to vulnerable people, but a disappointment to advocates who consider it a compassionate alternative to the current status quo. Their bitterness is partly aimed at the House of Lords, as opponents’ efforts there ultimately led to this defeat and could prompt calls for reform of the second chamber.
