MPs have voted in favour of the assisted dying bill after an emotional four hour debate moved MPs to tears in the Commons.
314 MPs voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday afternoon.
291 voted against the legislation, meaning the bill passed with a majority of 23.
The bill allows 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.
It will now move to the House of Lords, where it will be scrutinised further.
MPs were given a free vote on the bill, meaning they were allowed to vote on their on beliefs rather than with a party line.
Outside parliament, protesters from both sides have rallied since this morning to make their final cases.
MPs vote for historic End of Life bill with majority of just 23MPs have voted in favour of the assisted dying bill after an emotional four hour debate moved MPs to tears in the Commons.
314 MPs voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday afternoon.
291 voted against the legislation, meaning the bill passed with a majority of 23.
Athena Stavrou20 June 2025 14:31
House divided to voteMPs have now cleared the lobby to vote on the assisted dying bill.
We will bring you the result as soon as it is called.
Athena Stavrou20 June 2025 14:15
Starmer arrived to voteThe prime minister has arrived at parliament in time to vote on the assisted dying bill.
There was speculation earlier that Sir Keir Starmer would not vote as he was dealing with conflict in the Middle East.
But he is now sat on the frontbench, minutes before a vote is set to be called.
(PA Wire)Athena Stavrou20 June 2025 14:13
(Yui Mok/PA Wire)
(Lucy North/PA Wire)
(Yui Mok/PA Wire)Athena Stavrou20 June 2025 14:08
Watch: MPs in tears during emotional debateLabour MP backs Assisted Dying bill in emotional commons speechAthena Stavrou20 June 2025 13:58
Families outside parliament tell stories of loved-onesTeachers Catie and Becky Fenner attended a gathering of Dignity in Dying campaigners in Parliament Square ahead of the vote.
Their mother, who had motor neurone disease, flew to Dignitas in Switzerland to end her life.
The sisters said worrying about the legal implications of this meant they did not get to properly say goodbye and grieve.
Catie, 37, from Oxfordshire, said: “We had to stay behind because mum was insistent she wanted to protect us.
“We didn’t have the goodbye we wanted.
“It cost £15,000. Luckily, we could afford that but many people cannot.
“We were left quite traumatised by the whole experience – not only seeing a parent go through a really horrible disease but then the secrecy of the planning. We couldn’t tell anyone.
“We have had grief counselling. We don’t want any other family to go through what we went through.
“We want families to be able to say goodbye in this country without the fear of prosecution.”
(Lucy North/PA Wire)Athena Stavrou20 June 2025 13:52
MPs moved to tears by personal storiesToday’s debate and vote on the assisted dying bill is clearly a personal issue for many in and out of the Commons.
In the chamber, MPs have brought personal and emotional stories to the debate – bringing some of their colleagues to tears.
Maureen Burked, Labour MP for Glasgow North East, shared an emotional story about her brother, who was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer.
(Parliament TV)She described his deteriorating condition, which eventually left him unable to speak due to the strength of his painkillers.
“One of the last times when he still was able to speak, he called out to me from his bed and told me if there was a pill that he could take to end his life, he would very much like to take that,” she said.
As she said she was “doing right by her brother” by speaking up in favour of the bill, her colleagues behind her were visibly moved to tears.
Athena Stavrou20 June 2025 13:32
An hour to go until MPs have to voteMPs have been debating the assisted dying bill since this morning, and now have just an hour left if they choose to vote today.
The Commons only give until 2:30pm for private members bills to be debated on Friday, which means MPs have to vote before then.
Athena Stavrou20 June 2025 13:25
Poll of the day: Do you support the assisted dying bill?The assisted dying bill, facing a knife-edge vote after key safeguards were dropped, has reignited a deeply divisive debate over dignity, safety, and the limits of end-of-life choice.
With so much at stake and such deeply personal questions at the heart of this debate, we want to hear from you: do you support the assisted dying bill?
Vote in our poll in the story below and let us know your thoughts in the comments:
Poll: Do you support the assisted dying bill?Have your say: The assisted dying bill, facing a knife-edge vote after key safeguards were dropped, has reignited a deeply divisive debate over dignity, safety, and the limits of end-of-life choice
Athena Stavrou20 June 2025 13:20
Watch: James Cleverly’s tells MPs of ‘painful’ death of best friend in assisted dying bill debateJames Cleverly’s tells MPs of ‘painful’ death of best friend in assisted dying bill debateAthena Stavrou20 June 2025 13:15
