UK votes for assisted dying bill to continue
The Guardian reports:
MPs have taken a historic step toward legalising assisted dying in Englandand Wales by backing a bill that would give some terminally ill people the right to end their own lives.
Campaigners in favour of the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill said it was a significant move towards giving people more choice over the way they die, after the Commons backed the bill by 330 votes for to 275 against.
Brought by the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, the bill would give terminally ill adults with less than six months to live the right to die once the request has been signed off by two doctors and a high court judge.
Sounds similar to the NZ law.
The vote, which is the first on the issue for almost a decade, split the political parties and the cabinet. Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves voted in favour alongside prominent opposition MPs such as Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt. Those voting against included Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister; Wes Streeting, the health secretary; Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader; and Nigel Farage, the Reform leader.
The vote by party was:
- Labour 236:148
- Conservatives 23:93
- Lib Dems 63:11
- Reform 3:2
- Greens 4:0
A recent poll found support for the law by how people voted earlier this year was:
- Labour 77%:10%
- Conservative 72%: 16%
- Lib Dems 80%:10%
- Reform 68%:19%
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