UK's Assisted Dying Bill Clears Initial Parliamentary Hurdle As MPs Vote In Favour

Named the "Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)" bill, the proposed legislation garnered 330 votes in favour and 275 against, clearing the so-called second reading stage. The bill, tabled as a private member's bill by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, seeks to provide mentally competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales who are assessed by doctors to have six months or less left to live the right to choose to end their lives with medical help.

The deep division in opinion caused by the bill can be gauged by the fact that MPs were given a free vote rather than being dictated by party whips as usual. While Prime Minister Keir Starmer voted in favour of the bill, some other senior members of his government voted against it. "People across the country will be paying extremely close attention to today's vote, but this is a matter of conscience," said a spokesperson for the PM.

People in favour of assisted dying gathered in groups outside parliament to watch the vote on their mobile phones. Some had their hands pressed together as if in prayer. When the result of the vote was announced some people hugged and cheered. Some shouted: "Yes!" Others said: "We have done it" and "Thank you".

Having made it through Friday's vote, the bill is now up for months of further debate. The remaining passage through both the House of Commons and the unelected House of Lords might see amendments being introduced or the bill even being entirely voted down.

"It will be a very thorough process," Leadbeater told the BBC, adding that the bill could remain under deliberations for another six months and that she was open to discussing further changes to address people's concerns. "There's plenty of time to get this right," she said after more than four hours of often emotional debate in the chamber.

Those in favour of the bill say it is about shortening the death of those who are terminally ill and giving them more control. But opponents say vulnerable ill people may feel they should end their lives for fear of being a burden to their families and society, rather than prioritising their own well-being.

Others expressed concern that there had not been enough time to consider the bill before voting. "There will be a further opportunity to improve it if we can, and if we can't, then I hope we'll be able to reject it," Conservative lawmaker Danny Kruger, a leading opponent of the legislation, told Sky News, adding he believed it was "impossible to write a bill that is safe".

Leadbeater, who has been actively campaigning on the issue for many weeks now, has insisted her bill contains "the most robust safeguards" of any assisted dying legislation in the world. This includes two independent doctors having to approve the decision, followed by a high-court judge, with the person having to administer the drugs themselves. The legislation also includes a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying or taking lethal medicine.

(With inputs from agencies)