- Final Commons vote today on Assisted Dying Bill for terminally ill adults.
- Momentum shifts as more MPs withdraw support over safety concerns.
- Protesters and campaigners gather amid emotional national debate.
As Parliament prepares for a final vote, the Assisted Dying Bill—once seen as a progressive shift in UK end-of-life care—now faces increasing opposition.
Several Labour MPs, including Josh Fenton-Glynn, have reversed their support, citing the bill’s lack of protection against coercion and insufficient safeguards for vulnerable individuals.
Assisted Dying Bill at Risk as Final Debate Sparks Intense Division
The proposed legislation, formally known as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, would make assisted dying legal in England and Wales under strict conditions. Patients would need to self-administer life-ending medication, with approval from two doctors and an expert panel.
The emotional weight of the debate has drawn protestors from both sides to Westminster. While supporters advocate for the dignity and choice it offers the terminally ill, opponents worry about coercion, misdiagnosis, and weakening trust in palliative care systems.
Kim Leadbeater, the bill’s sponsor, remains confident, arguing the current legal status quo is inhumane for those suffering at the end of life. She insists the bill has been refined with amendments to address earlier concerns raised during committee review.
Despite that, a growing number of MPs have publicly switched to opposing the bill. Citing inadequate safeguards, especially for the mentally ill, and pressure from medical associations, critics are calling for a more thoroughly vetted and safer version of the legislation.
With Parliament deeply divided and time running out, today’s vote could determine whether the UK begins a historic shift in end-of-life law—or puts the debate on hold indefinitely.
“The more I looked into it, I thought there was not enough in this Bill that protects against issues around coercion… I decided it just wasn’t safe.”
— Josh Fenton-Glynn, Labour MP
