This week the House of Commons debated the topic of Assisted Dying. Kim Leadbeater MP’s Private Members Bill proposed legislation, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, would “allow adults who are terminally ill, subject to safeguards and protections, to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life”.
Given the personal nature of the issue, the vote on this was a matter of individual conscience, not Party policy.
I have been deeply concerned about end-of-life care and choice at the end of life since before becoming an MP.
Since being elected, I have sponsored the previous Bill on this matter, and co-Chaired the APPG on Choice at the End of Life. I am long committed to giving people choice at the end of life.
This is an emotive issue of the utmost importance, concerning our relationship with death. I am so grateful to all of my constituents who have written to me to share their thoughts on this matter. The majority of those who contacted me were in favour of Assisted Dying.
It has been an honour to hear your personal stories of caring for loved ones at the end of their lives, and while some of you may disagree on my stance on this legislation, the great respect shown across all corners of the debate has been heartening to witness.
I voted in favour of the Bill on Friday. I am pleased that MPs chose to progress the Bill, and it will now undergo further scrutiny in Committee and throughout the passage of legislation across both the House of Commons and the House of Lords over the coming months.
You can see the debate in full here: Parliamentlive.tv - House of Commons