A number of the region’s high-profile MPs voted against the bill
Greater Manchester’s MPs cast their votes today(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Assisted dying is set to become law after an historic moment in the Commons.
MPs voted by 314 in favour of the legislation to 291 against – a majority of 23 – to legalise the procedure for terminally-ill people. As news of the vote came through on Friday afternoon a crowd of around 100 people in Parliament Square, Westminster, erupted into cheers.
Keir Starmer and the Chancellor Rachel Reeves were among those MPs who voted in favour while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch voted against the plans. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds were among the high-profile Greater Manchester MPs who voted against against the bill.
In total 11 of the region’s 27 MPs voted in favour while 14 voted against the legislation.
Speaking this morning Wigan MP and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky News: “I’ve had a longstanding personal commitment to change the law on assisted dying with appropriate safeguards. And I think there has been a very considered and respectful debate over the last few months on all sides.
The Cabinet minister said she respected ‘the views of colleagues who take a different view’, adding: “I hope the Bill succeeds today. If it does pass the House of Commons stages, of course it will go on to the House of Lords, where there will be more debate and there may be more changes.
“But I have believed as an individual – not as a Government because we don’t take a view – but as an individual for a long time, that the law needs to change and I continue to hold that position.”
Back in November, MPs voted by a majority of 55 to support the principle of changing the law, after the first debate on the issue in the Commons for almost a decade. Today’s vote means the controversial legislation – spearheaded by the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater – will now pass to the House of Lords where it will be debated by peers.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill aims to give terminally ill people over the age 18 with just six months left to live the option to end their life early. Their decision must be ‘clear, settled and informed’ at every stage – and free from coercion. It must also be subject to approval by two doctors and an expert panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. Assisted dying is current banned and carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
In the first Commons vote for almost a decade on the issue back in November, MPs voted by a majority of 55 to support the principle of changing the law.
Supporters and opponents of a change in the law gathered at Westminster early on Friday, holding placards saying ‘Let us choose’ and ‘Don’t make doctors killers’. Ahead of the vote, Ms Leadbeater said it will ‘offer a compassionate and safe choice to terminally ill people who want to make it’.
How Greater Manchester’s 27 MPs voted…
In favour:
Against:
No vote ( This does not automatically equate to an abstention as they may have received permission to miss a vote or had other reasons for missing it):
- Kirith Entwistle (Bolton North East)
- Lisa Nandy (Wigan)