British MPs begin crunch debate on assisted dying
British MPs have begun a crunch debate on a bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales, before a vote that could be one of the most consequential social policy decisions they will ever make.
The conscience vote, which is due to take place about 2.30pm (11.30pm AEST) on Friday, is expected to be extremely close, with those on both sides of the issue voicing confidence.
As things stand, proponents of so-called assisted dying have the edge.
When MPs last voted on the issue in November, those backing assisted dying won by 330 votes to 275.
Since then, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has been scrutinised, leading to some changes in the proposed legislation, which is being shepherded through parliament by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater rather than the government.
In opening the debate, Leadbeater relayed how she had heard hundreds of stories from people who saw their loved ones die in traumatic circumstances.
"Not supporting the bill today is not a neutral act. It is a vote for the status quo," she said.
"And it fills me with despair to think MPs could be here in another 10 years' time hearing the same stories."
Proponents of the bill argue those with a terminal diagnosis must be given a choice at the end of their lives.
However, opponents say the disabled and older people could be at risk of being coerced, directly or indirectly, into ending their lives to save money or relieve the burden on family members.
Others have called for improvements in palliative care and greater investments in hospices to ease suffering as a better and more moral alternative.
Diane Abbott, a veteran left-wing Labour MP, urged MPs to "speak up for the voiceless one more time, because there is no doubt that if this bill is passed in its current form, people will lose their lives who do not need to, and they will be amongst the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society".
Passions were running high outside parliament, where hundreds of people gathered to make their voices heard.
Supporters were dressed in clothing emblazoned with the phrase "Campaign for Dignity in Dying", while opponents held up banners urging MPs not to make the state-run National Health Service the "National Suicide Service".
The vote is potentially the biggest change to social policy since abortion was partially legalised in 1967.
The bill would allow terminally ill adults aged over 18 in England and Wales, who are deemed to have less than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death.
The terminally ill person would have to be capable of taking the fatal drugs themselves.
Proponents say wealthy individuals can travel to Switzerland, which allows foreigners to legally end their lives, while others have to face possible prosecution for helping their loves ones die.
The outcome of the vote is unclear, as some MPs who backed the bill earlier did so only on the proviso there would be changes made.
Some who backed the bill are disappointed by the changes, while others say parliament has not been given enough time to debate the issues.
Friday's vote is not the end of the matter. The legislation would then go to the House of Lords, which can delay and amend policy.
There is no consensus in the cabinet about the measure.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated he will back the bill on Friday, while his health secretary, Wes Streeting, is opposed, but said he would respect the outcome.
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ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
UK parliament votes for assisted dying, paving way for historic law change
Britain's parliament has voted in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying, paving the way for the country's biggest social change in a generation. The legislation was passed on Friday by a vote of 314-291, clearing its biggest parliamentary hurdle. The "Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)" law would give mentally competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales with six months or less left to live the right to choose to end their lives with medical help. The bill now proceeds to Britain's upper chamber, the House of Lords, where it will undergo months of scrutiny. While there could be further amendments, the unelected Lords will be reluctant to block legislation that elected members of the House of Commons have passed. The vote puts Britain on course to follow Australia, Canada and other countries, as well as some US states, in permitting assisted dying. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government was neutral on the legislation, meaning politicians voted according to their conscience rather than along party lines. Mr Starmer voted in favour. Supporters of the bill said it would provide dignity and compassion to people suffering, but opponents worried that vulnerable people could be coerced into ending their lives. Hundreds of people gathered outside parliament to hear news of the vote. When the result was read out, those in favour of the legislation hugged, clapped and cheered. They shouted "victory", "we won" and waved placards. Those opposed to it stood in silence. Emma Bray, who has motor neurone disease, said she hoped the result would help people in her condition. Ms Bray, who is 42 and has two children, said she planned to starve herself to death next month to help relieve the pain after being told she only has six months to live. "This result will mean that people will not have to go through the same suffering I have faced," she told Reuters. Opinion polls show that a majority of Britons back assisted dying. Friday's vote followed hours of emotional debate and references to personal stories in the chamber, and followed a vote in November that approved the legislation in principle. Opponents of the bill have argued that ill people may feel they should end their lives for fear of being a burden to their families and society. Some lawmakers withdrew their support after the initial vote last year, saying safeguards had been weakened. John Howard, a Catholic priest who led about a dozen people in prayer outside parliament while voting took place, said he worried that some people would be forced to end their lives early under pressure from family members. Friday's vote took place 10 years after parliament last voted against allowing assisted dying. The 314-291 vote showed a narrowing of support from the 330-275 vote in favour in November. In the original plan, an assisted death would have required court approval. That has been replaced by a requirement for a judgement by a panel including a social worker, a senior legal figure and a psychiatrist, which is seen by some as a watering down. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour lawmaker who proposed the bill, said the legislation still offered some of the strongest protections in the world. "I am fully confident in the bill," she told the BBC after the vote. Opponents had doubts not just about the potential for coercion, but also about the impact of assisted dying on the finances and resources of the state-run National Health Service, how the law might change the relationship between doctors and their patients and whether it could mean that improvements to palliative care might now not be made. Care Not Killing, a group that opposes the law change, issued a statement calling the bill "deeply flawed and dangerous", saying that its safeguards had been weakened since November. "Members of Parliament had under 10 hours to consider over 130 amendments to the Bill, or less than five minutes per change," said the group's CEO, Gordon Macdonald. The law was proposed under a process led by an individual member of parliament, rather than being part of government policy, which has limited the amount of parliamentary time allocated to it. Some lawmakers said such a major social change should have been allocated more parliamentary time for debate and involve a greater degree of ministerial involvement and accountability. Reuters
The Age
4 hours ago
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UK parliament votes for assisted dying, paving way for historic law change
London: Britain's parliament has voted in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying, paving the way for the country's biggest social change in a generation. The legislation passed by a vote of 314-291, clearing its biggest parliamentary hurdle. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) law would give mentally competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales with six months or less left to live the right to choose to end their lives with medical help. The bill now proceeds to Britain's upper chamber, the House of Lords, where it will undergo months of scrutiny. While there could be further amendments, the unelected Lords will be reluctant to block legislation that has been passed by elected members of the House of Commons. The vote puts Britain on course to follow Australia, Canada and other countries, as well as some US states, in permitting assisted dying. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government was neutral on the legislation, meaning politicians voted according to their conscience rather than along party lines. Starmer voted in favour. Loading Supporters of the bill say it will provide dignity and compassion to people suffering, but opponents worry that vulnerable people could be coerced into ending their lives. Hundreds of people gathered outside parliament to hear news of the vote.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
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