MPs listened to the public and ignored Wes Streeting’s spurious warnings to make history _ Hieuuk
Parliament had one of its finest days as MPs voted in favour of assisted dying bill.
Screen grab of the benches filled with MPs during the debate of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Li (Image: PA)
MPs listened to the public and ignored Wes Streeting’s spurious warnings as the first major hurdle was cleared in changing assisted dying laws in the UK.
They agreed that the country wants change for the terminally ill who suffer intolerable pain and anguish.
It was a momentous occasion, with campaigners rejoicing outside the Palace of Westminster as history was made in the Commons.
Parliament was seen at its best with MPs on both sides of the debate speaking eloquently and powerfully.
Labour’s Kim Leadbeater – who introduced the Bill – and Tory Danny Kruger, who opposed it, were particular highlights.
This was not the partisan, powder keg passion of the Brexit years, it was something more profound, more personal and more respectful.
Screen grab of Labour MP Kim Leadbetter opening the debate in favour of her Terminally Ill Adults (E (Image: PA)
In this video grab taken from footage broadcast by the UK Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) via the (Image: PRU/AFP via Getty Images)
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But the margin of victory, 330 to 275, shows how conflicted MPs are over the issue, even though three quarters of the public want the law changed.
Keir Starmer voted for the Bill while Kemi Badenoch, who supports assisted dying in principle, opposed it.
Some 93 Tories opposed it, with 24 voting in favour. Labour MPs were split too, with 236 supporting the Bill and 148 against.
These kind of splits mean many pitfalls lay ahead if assisted dying for the terminally ill is to be legalised in the UK.
Not even the Health Secretary’s ill-judged claims that the NHS will suffer could scupper the result.
The reasonably comfortable majority of 55 gives the Bill some momentum as it heads to the next stage of parliamentary scrutiny.
But to become law it must go through the same stages as a government bill, including second reading, committee stage, report and third reading in both the Commons and the Lords, followed by Royal Assent.
This will take many, many months.
However, there are many more challenges to overcome along the way, including concerns over whether MPs will be able to properly scrutinise this particular bill.
The battle may have been won but the war goes on.
