Assisted dying set to become law in England and Wales after bill passed by MPs
Terminally ill people in England and Wales are to be given the right to an assisted death in a historic societal shift that will transform end-of-life care.
After months of argument, MPs narrowly voted in favour of a private member's bill introduced by Labour's Kim Leadbeater, which could become law within four years.
Her bill, which passed by 314 to 291 votes, a majority of 23, was hailed by campaigners as 'a day for the history books, where facts have prevailed over fear'.
The emotional debate in parliament was dominated by pleas from opponents of the bill for stricter safeguards against coercion by abusers, concern from disabled people and warnings about the fundamental change in the power of the state when granted new rights over life and death.
British prime minister Keir Starmer voted in favour of the bill, while MPs were given a free vote.
It will head to the House of Lords and peers are not expected to block its progress, though opponents said they would continue to fight the bill there. Royal assent is widely expected by the end of the year.
It will give people with less than six months to live in England and Wales the right to an assisted death after approval from two doctors and a panel including a psychiatrist, social worker and senior lawyer.
— The Guardian
Read More
Tánaiste orders evacuation of Irish embassy staff in Iran
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Terror cops probe RAF security bungle after pro-Palestine fanatics break into Britain's biggest air base
TERROR cops were last night probing a security shambles after pro-Palestine fanatics on scooters broke into Britain's biggest air base. The thugs Advertisement 7 Red paint can be seen on and around the Airbus Voyager at RAF Brize Norton Credit: ITV News 7 A Palestine Action fanatic rides towards the plane on an electric scooter after evading security at the base Credit: x 7 The vandals' paint kit hangs from the scooter's handlebars Credit: x PM Keir Starmer called the attack 'disgraceful'. The group, Palestine Action will be outlawed as a terrorist organisation after the brazen paint stunt at Britain's biggest air base. The Government was last night under huge pressure following the security shambles at the high-security base. Home Secretary Advertisement READ MORE RAF NEWS Two fanatics on electric scooters were thought to have cut a section of the base's eight-mile perimeter fence in rural Oxfordshire, early yesterday. Palestine Action They then used converted fire extinguishers to spray paint on to the turbines and fuselages of the planes in a bid to ruin the engines. The fanatics fled and were being hunted by counter-terror cops. Advertisement Most read in The Sun PM The group also targeted commercial sites in Manchester and Chelmsford, Essex, yesterday which they claimed had links to Israel. Security alert as man seen climbing up Big Ben sparking huge emergency response Checks were under way on the aircraft, which cost £750million over their lifetime. Sources said damage to the engines could run into 'seven figures'. The RAF does not expect the incident to affect wider operations. Advertisement transport and refuelling, including flights to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. 7 Paint can be seen daubed on the engine and fuselage at dawn Credit: Sky News 7 The group claims to have sprayed paint into the engine - and putting the jet out of action Credit: Sky News Palestine Action said: 'By decommissioning two military planes, Palestine Action have directly intervened in the genocide and prevented crimes against Palestinians.' Advertisement But a defence source said the group was 'confused and misguided' in its mission. The source said: 'These planes were for air transport and air-to-air refuelling. Trying to link the Voyager fleet to Gaza is ridiculous.' An MoD spokesman confirmed that Voyager aircraft had not been involved in refuelling or supporting Israeli Air Force jets. They have been used to refuel RAF Typhoons fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, and against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Advertisement Retired Col Richard Kemp said: 'Brize was attacked not by external forces but the enemy within. It was a deliberate act of sabotage.' Lord West, the former head of the Royal Navy, described the breach as 'shocking'. He added: 'Bearing in mind the very real risks of attacks from terrorists and Russian proxy state actors, it's unbelievable that such lax protection should be afforded to vital equipment and, in the final analysis, our people.' Tory leader Advertisement She said: 'This is not lawful protest, it's politically-motivated criminality.' A defence source said it was impossible to patrol the base '24/7, 365'. They said: 'We do have fences, cameras and barbed wire but to patrol with dogs all the time costs a huge amount of manpower and some of it comes back on spending to the Armed Forces.' 7 Terror cops are probing the security shambles that allowed pro-Palestine fanatics on scooters to break into Britain's biggest air base Credit: NC Advertisement 7 PM Keir Starmer called the attack 'disgraceful' Credit: EPA After the stunt, Defence Secretary investigation and a review of wider security at our bases. Palestine Action has previously focused attention on Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems Ltd. In March the group claimed to have shut down its Bristol HQ using a cherry picker. Four people were charged over damage caused. Advertisement Hunt for missiles as Israel blitzed By Nick Parker, in Tel Aviv ISRAELI fighter-bombers were racing against time to smash Iranian missile launchers last night as ballistic rockets rained down on the Jewish state. It came as a mushroom cloud hung over Israel's northern port city of Haifa where a blast left 17 people injured, three seriously, yesterday afternoon. Shrapnel tore into a 16-year-old boy's upper body, and two other victims, aged 54 and 40, had blast wounds to their legs. An overnight lull in the attacks — in which just one Iranian rocket penetrated Israel's Iron Dome, David's Sling and Arrow missile shields — ended with a rare nationwide alert. Sirens sounded from Galilee in the north, Tel Aviv in the west, the capital Jerusalem, and the southern city of Beersheba where a hospital was hit on Thursday. Huge blasts were heard as interceptors streaked into the sky and explosions were reported across the nation as about 25 missiles homed in. The worst damage was reported in Haifa as Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei crowed that Israel was getting its 'comeuppance'. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said last night that Haifa's Al-Jarina mosque 'was struck by an Iranian missile, injuring Muslim clerics and worshippers'. And the IDF said an Iranian missile which hit Beersheba was fitted with a cluster bomb warhead. These weapons — banned by 112 nations — explode above ground, scattering bomblets to cause maximum damage and casualties. Israeli warplanes were yesterday mounting constant missions to knock out Iran's 300 rocket launchers. Officials claimed two thirds of them had been hit.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I'd bought my dream home & was losing weight working out when I got life-changing diagnosis after spotting warning sign
A BRAVE Irish woman has told how her entire life was turned upside down by a shocking health diagnosis just weeks after noticing a concerning change in her body. Lydia Whelan, 33, said she initially ignored the warning sign but visited her doctor after friends warned: "There's something seriously wrong." Advertisement 5 Lydia has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy and fifteen rounds of radiation Credit: journalist collect 5 Lydia was treated at St James' Hospital in Dublin And the Irish woman also told how she broke down in tears at home while waiting for her test results as she had a "gut feeling" the outcome was not going to be favourable. Lydia told The Irish Sun: 'It was the worst two weeks of my life, I was just sobbing." In Spring 2024, Lydia and her partner had just agreed on the sale of their dream home when she was referred to St James' Hospital in Dublin over a small indentation on her breast. Advertisement After waiting a gruelling two weeks which she called 'the worst of her life', Lydia was given the life-changing news that she had breast cancer. Treatment would involve six rounds of chemotherapy and fifteen rounds of radiation. But brave Lydia has sworn that she will give all she has to battle the nightmare disease - and aims to spread positivity by documenting the journey on Lydia explained: 'Last May I was living my normal life, I was working nine to five, Monday to Friday, I was doing fitness, I was after losing a bit of weight, looking good, feeling good. 'I felt amazing but there was one day I was getting dressed and I thought, 'What is that on my breast?' Advertisement 'I thought maybe I'd banged it and left it a few days but I noticed it wasn't going down. I went in and said it to my sister, and I showed my friends, and they were like, 'Lydia, there's something seriously wrong'. 'It was like three or four fingers of an indentation in the breast. Breast cancer symptoms you should NEVER ignore, with Dr Philippa Kaye 'It looked like someone had pushed in my skin and it didn't pop back out. 'I went back to the GP the following week and she said I can't say what it is, she said I'm going to refer you to St James'. GUT INSTINCT 'One of the surgeons said you're going to need a biopsy and an ultrasound.' Advertisement Support worker Lydia said her instincts told her that her worst fears were true long before She explained: 'I had to wait two weeks for the results but I just knew, I had a gut feeling. I was at home with my mam and my partner and I just started crying because I knew. 'That was at the end of June last year when I got the mammogram and the biopsy and the ultrasound, and it's not a nice experience, it's very uncomfortable. 'The doctor said regardless of whether the news is good or bad you'll have to wait two weeks to find out. MENTAL HEALTH BATTLE 'It was the worst two weeks of my life, I was just sobbing. Advertisement 'We had just gone sale agreed on a house, I thought I was going to lose my house, my relationship, I was just spiralling.' In the midst of the terrifying wait, Lydia's close friend was getting married, and she tried as best she could to shield the bride-to-be from her awful diagnosis. She told us: 'I was still trying to live my life, the week of the biopsy was my best friend's 'She knew something was there but I never told her. I had to then because you could see it when I was putting on my bridesmaid dress, they were all looking at me in awe and I was telling everyone it's okay when I just knew it was not. NEXT STEP 'It's only when you look at things, I had cancer and did not know. Advertisement 'I was diagnosed on July 30. I was on the edge of my seat, the surgeon said, 'We're really sorry', and I don't even think I could let him finish, I just instantly started sobbing. 'Straight away I was like, 'What's next', very quickly I was straight in. 'I started my treatment on August 27. I was hit with six rounds of chemotherapy. 'I had my surgery in February. I had a full mastectomy on my breast with immediate reconstruction. POSITIVE OUTLOOK 'And I just finished radiation the other day. I had 15 rounds of radiation. Advertisement 'I'm absolutely exhausted, I thought I was going to have to be carried to the end of my chemo, I got very sick instantly. 'I'm now 33 and I'm like, why do I feel like a 100-year-old woman?' 'I had to wait two weeks for the results but I just knew, I had a gut feeling. I was at home with my mam and my partner and I just started crying because I knew." Lydia Whelan Lydia shared how she has managed to stay positive despite the hardship. She said: 'Mentally it's been a lot but I've tried to maintain a really good, positive outlook. NEW PERSPECTIVE 'I just feel like life is so precious and I hope I will stay here for a long time, for all the little things you take for granted. Advertisement 'It definitely gives you a different outlook on life. 'I wasn't able to drink coffee when I was doing chemo, and one of the days I was feeling good I got a coffee and I was just standing there and holding it and smiling, you get a new perspective and look at things differently. 'I used to stress over things in life that I look back at now and I just think it's not that stressful. 'And that whole thing of you don't know who you're walking by on the street, you don't know what they're experiencing. HARD FIGHT 'I've had people say to me, 'You've got the good cancer'. I'm 33 years of age, nothing prepares you to look into the mirror and not recognise yourself. Advertisement 'There's no such thing as a good cancer. 'Its been the hardest fight of my life - you're fighting for your life.' But Lydia revealed that the biggest impact has been on her tight-knit family, who were devastated to hear about her health issue. She said: "It's heartbreaking, I wouldn't visit my 90-year-old granny because I didn't want her to see me like that. WORLD STILL SPINNING 'I have three sisters and a younger brother. Advertisement 'We're a very close family - it broke them. One of the first things I said when I got diagnosed was, 'How do I tell my mother?' 'And from my mam and my sisters they were like, 'I wish I could take this from you', and I'm like, 'No, even on my darkest days I still wouldn't wish it on you.' 'It's been a whirlwind, is the only way I can describe it. 'I'm very mindful that my world is stuck, but all my friends' worlds are still spinning and I want to be a part of that.' SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER THE most important sign of breast cancer is a breast lump, according to the HSE. However, most breast lumps - nine in 10 - are not cancerous. But it's always best to have them checked by a GP. The HSE advises the public contact their GP if you notice: A new lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts Bloodstained discharge from either of your nipples A lump or swelling in either of your armpits Dimpling on the skin of your breasts A rash on or around your nipple A change in how your nipple looks, such as becoming sunken into your breast They added that breast pain is not usually a symptom of breast cancer. Despite the trials, Lydia said her journey has taught her a lot and she's determined to take important lessons away from it. Advertisement And the 33-year-old wanted to spread positivity online to combat the mirage of negative posts she was seeing on She continued: 'If there's one thing I could change for people it's their perspective on life. 'Even if something small happens, like something happens to the car, I'm like, take a breath, it'll get sorted.' 'I want a stress free life so now I just breathe in and breathe out before I react. MAKING MEMORIES 'It's just not something anyone should be going through. Advertisement 'It's a negative story. I thought I can go and post negatively or I can post positive things. 'About ten years ago I would have laid down and let it take me, now I'm a different person. 'There's a TikTok of me just dancing and laughing and being with my friends, making the best memories. In that moment you feel so good, it's so good for your soul. 'I'm very mindful that my world is stuck, but all my friends' worlds are still spinning and I want to be a part of that.' Lydia Whelan 'I just feel I've so much left in me. And for me it's so nice to look back at TikToks I made when I am having a bad day and I just think, 'Look at all the stuff you have to look forward to if you fight this.' 'I've so much to look forward to. Advertisement 'There's so much negativity and it's easy to get sucked into it. 'If I could talk to anyone about it I would say it's about trying to maintain that positivity, everyone's bad day is their worst day. 'All my friends have kids who call me Liddy, and I never wanted them to see any negativity, and they saw me quickly sick, and they were like, 'Mammy, she's still the same Liddy.'" 5 Lydia and her partner had just agreed a sale on their dream home 5 Lydia was diagnosed with breast cancer last year when she was 32 Advertisement 5 The support worker has documented her journey on social media
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Council issues enforcement order to Dublin Airport for breaching cap of 32 million passengers
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL has issued an enforcement order to the DAA giving it a two year period to comply with its planning conditions as it has breached the 32 million annual passenger cap for Dublin Airport. A spokesperson for the council said that this gives the DAA an opportunity to progress their 'planning applications to increase passenger capacity at Dublin Airport or take such other steps as they consider appropriate to achieve compliance'. The council received complaints that Dublin Airport had breached its annual passenger cap in 2023 and 2024 and launched a formal investigation. A warning letter was issued to the DAA previously. A spokesperson for the DAA said that passenger numbers for the airport will be north of 36 million this year and will be heading towards 40 million by the end of the decade. Advertisement They said the enforcement order is a 'sorry indictment of the mess that is the Irish planning system, particularly when it comes to the most vital piece of transport infrastructure on this island'. The DAA called for the system to be overhauled immediately. 'Our national airport is hamstrung and can't get on with its mandate to grow Ireland's connectivity. The passenger cap on Dublin Airport needs to be removed once and for all,' the organisation said. The DAA further said that the current Government committed to acting speedily when it took up office to bring forward a legislative solution to the passenger cap. The residents group Residents at Dublin Airport accused the airport authority of acting with 'arrogance' and 'thumbing its nose at the planning process while demanding the Government facilitate what amounts to unrestricted air passenger numbers'. Spokesperson Liam O Gradaigh said: 'The airport authority is obliged to provide noise pollution data to the noise regulator, ANCA, in support of its application for 40 million passengers. That request was made in March last year and daa has still not provided the information required by the regulator.' 'Instead, they have demanded that the planning process for sustainable passenger numbers at the airport be stripped from the local authority and given to some national quango. That is the policy of Heads I win, Tails you lose,' he added. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
