UK Commons rejects assisted dying bill in 286–270 vote
The defeat ends the bill’s progress during the current parliamentary session and leaves England and Wales’ assisted-dying laws unchanged.
The UK House of Commons has rejected legislation that would have allowed eligible terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death.
MPs voted 286–270 against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, ending its progress in the current parliamentary session. The proposed process required approval from at least two doctors and an expert panel.
The Private Member’s Bill was introduced by Labour MP Lauren Edwards. The government adopted a neutral position, allowing MPs to vote according to their consciences rather than along party lines. Prime Minister Andy Burnham did not vote, saying he did not want to unduly influence the debate.
The result follows two previous occasions on which the Commons backed assisted-dying legislation. An earlier measure was subsequently blocked in the House of Lords, while a similar attempt was rejected in 2015, according to Al Jazeera Global News.
Safeguards for vulnerable people remained central to the debate. Opponents argued that terminally ill people could face pressure to end their lives, while supporters said the law should change. Care Not Killing welcomed the result, while Dignity in Dying described it as a setback and said the issue would remain unresolved.
An Ipsos poll cited by Al Jazeera found that about two in three Britons supported assisted dying in principle, although that support could depend on additional funding for palliative care.
