Live MPs to vote on legalising assisted dying
MPs will vote this afternoon on whether to legalise assisted dying in a potentially historic moment for the country.
The House of Commons backed the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in principle last November, by 330 votes to 275, a majority of 55.
Dozens of hours of scrutiny have followed, with numerous amendments made, and MPs will now decide if they want to give the Bill its third reading - the final major hurdle all legislation must clear before it heads to the House of Lords for further consideration.
If the Bill is voted through by MPs today it will almost certainly ensure assisted dying is introduced, with the upper House unlikely to stand in the way of a decision made by the democratically-elected chamber.
But if the Bill is voted down, its passage through the Houses of Parliament will be over and the issue will likely be parked for a generation.
Supporters of the Bill have argued dying people must be given the choice to end their lives but critics have warned proposed safeguards are not strong enough to protect the most vulnerable in society.
The proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist.
MPs have been given a free vote on the Bill which means they are able to decide based on their conscience rather than being instructed along party lines.
The relatively narrow margin of victory at second reading in November means today's vote could be tight and all eyes will be on how many MPs could switch sides.
For example, the Bill would be defeated if 28 MPs were to switch from voting yes to no, and if all other MPs voted the same way they did in November, including abstentions.
Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP who brought the legislation forward, said she was 'confident' the Commons will back her Bill, allowing it to continue its journey to the statute book.
The issue has split the Cabinet. Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, is expected to back the Bill but Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, will vote against it.
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