Assisted dying in England and Wales has moved a step closer after MPs voted by a majority of 23 in favour of a Bill legalising it for terminally ill people.
After an emotional four-hour debate in the Commons, 314 MPs voted for the Bill and 291 against.
Supporters of assisted dying wept, jumped and hugged each other outside Parliament as the news spread that it had been passed.
The Bill, which allows adults who have less than six months to live to end their lives, will move to the House of Lords for further debate and scrutiny.
Public support for a change in the law remains high, according to a YouGov poll, suggesting nearly three in four people back assisted dying.
MPs had a free vote on the Bill, meaning they decided according to their conscience and the arguments rather than along party lines.
This was the first time Kim Leadbeater’s Bill had been debated and voted on in its entirety since last year’s historic yes vote, when MPs supported the principle of assisted dying for England and Wales by a majority of 55 at second reading.
Labour MP Ms Leadbeater argued her Bill would “correct the profound injustices of the status quo”.
Both Houses must agree on the final text of the Bill before it can be signed into law.
Due to the four-year implementation period, it could be 2029 – potentially coinciding with the end of this Government’s Parliament – before assisted dying is offered.
Encouraging or assisting suicide is currently against the law in England and Wales, with a maximum jail sentence of 14 years.
Supporters of assisted dying have described the current law as not being fit for purpose, with desperate terminally ill people feeling the need to end their lives in secret or go abroad to Dignitas alone, for fear loved ones will be prosecuted for helping them.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer remained supportive of the Bill, voting yes on Friday as he had done last year.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who had urged MPs to vote against the legislation, describing it as “a bad Bill” despite being “previously supportive of assisted suicide”, voted no.
Friday was the first time the Bill was debated and voted on in its entirety since last year’s historic yes vote, when MPs supported the principle of assisted dying for England and Wales by a majority of 55 at second reading.
Labour MP Ms Leadbeater has argued her Bill will “correct the profound injustices of the status quo and to offer a compassionate and safe choice to terminally ill people who want to make it”.
During an hours-long date on Friday, MPs on both sides of the issue recalled personal stories of loved ones who had died.
Conservative former minister Sir James Cleverly, who led the opposition to the Bill in the Commons, spoke of a close friend who died “painfully” from cancer.
He said he comes at the divisive issue “not from a position of faith nor from a position of ignorance”, and was driven in his opposition by “concerns about the practicalities” of the Bill.
Assisted dying set to be legalised as MPs back Kim Leadbeater’s bill in historic vote
Historic vote brings assisted dying closer to becoming law in England and Wales
UK readies charter flights out of Tel Aviv as Middle East crisis spirals
Stagecoach drivers end strike action after 11.5% pay uplift agreed
Deputy FM accuses Leo Varadkar of reinventing himself after Irish unity comments
UK heatwave: Wildfire, health and drought warnings explained in six key maps
