MPs will today vote on landmark plans to legalise assisted dying, just months after a former bid ran out of time to become law.
Labour MP Lauren Edwards has brought forward a bill which is identical to the previous legislation spearheaded by Kim Leadbeater. It would allow terminally ill people in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to seek an assisted death, subject to approval by doctors and legal professionals.
Previous bill ran out of time
Ms Leadbeater’s legislation was effectively talked out of time in the Lords in Parliament's last session, despite MPs taking the historic step to pass it in the Commons. Both sides believe they can win the debate, with some suggesting it could simply come down to which group has more MPs in the Commons.
MPs share views ahead of vote
Labour MP Ashley Dalton, who has terminal cancer, wrote about why she believes MPs should vote against the assisted dying legislation. In her piece, she said: "Assisted dying crossed my mind after cancer diagnosis but I will vote against it."
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who spearheaded the last attempt to legalise assisted dying, wrote for The Mirror about why she believes MPs should vote in favour of assisted dying legislation. She said: "We have let down terminally ill people for far too long - all they ask for is choice."
Prime Minister to abstain
The Prime Minister has already confirmed he will abstain from the vote, so as not to “unduly influence the debate”, but said in July he believed the funding of palliative care needs to be fixed before consideration can be given to legalising assisted dying.
