Today’s vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Today I voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life Bill) at the Third Reading.

I made this decision based on many hours of listening to the debate in the chamber, in the public debate and listening to constituents and reading their correspondence. Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about this topic and for sharing your perspective and experiences with me.  We have all been grappling with what it means to be terminally ill, to have capacity to make decisions, to be in control of our final moments on this Earth. My decision has been informed by all of these experiences.

At the Second Reading, I shared with constituents my perspective that I do not have an in principle objection to assisted dying. I believe that modern science - which is extending life and changing the experience of death - along with the availability of assisted dying for those with the means to afford it in other jurisdictions means that we have to consider whether the status quo in this country is acceptable. I also made clear that my support at Second Reading was not unconditional and that I would continue to carefully consider the risks of coercion and the principle of capacity throughout the process of the Bill.

At the Report Stage, I voted for NC2 which has now been added to the Bill. This clause means that the subject of assisted dying would not be raised with children under 18 years old.  I also voted for Amendment 24 which would disapply the presumption that a person has capacity unless the opposite is established. The vote on this amendment was not carried.

Amendment 14, which means that someone who is not terminally ill with the meaning of the Bill cannot bring themselves within that definition by voluntarily stopping eating or drinking or both, has been added to the Bill and I welcome this.

The ‘Eligibility to be provided with lawful assistance to voluntarily end own life’, ‘Procedure, safeguards and protections’ and ‘Offences’ sections of the Bill set out the protections against coercion and to assess capacity.

Everything possible must be done to improve and support Palliative Care services. We need to build an NHS fit for the future where the quality of palliative care cannot be a reason to oppose this change.  

Members of Parliament are elected to make difficult decisions. Each of us approaches these decisions in different ways.  I have considered the risks of this Bill, alongside the protections for vulnerable people. Today, I made this decision based on the assessment that this Bill can end suffering for terminally ill people who choose a certain path and protect those who are vulnerable. 

I put on record my deep respect and heartfelt thanks for Kim Leadbeater who I believe has navigated this incredibly difficult debate and process with grace, patience and profound compassion.

I put on record my continued respect for my colleagues who I know are opposed to this Bill, who have significant concerns about it and who decided to vote against it.

To my constituents, thank you to everyone who has contacted me about this. I recognise the wide range of views on this Bill and as this process continues, will continue to listen to those different perspectives.