MPs vote to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales

The vote came after five hours of debate in parliament

For the first time in history, parliament has approved the principle of assisted dying being legal in England and Wales.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed in parliament with a majority of 55 votes, with 330 MPs voting in favour of the bill and 275 voting against.

This was the bill's second reading in parliament, meaning it was the first time MPs in the Commons had debated and voted on the legislation.

The vote came after five hours of debate in the House of Commons, during which MPs shared personal stories. Those against the bill called for better end-of-life care, the BBC reports.

MPs were given a free vote on the bill, meaning their parties did not tell them how to vote. This meant members had to come to a personal decision about whether or not to back the legislation, which was introduced by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater.

The bill says that anyone who wants to end their life must:

• be over 18 and live in England and Wales, and have been registered with a GP for at least 12 months
• have the mental capacity to make the choice and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressure
• be expected to die within six months
• make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to die
• satisfy two independent doctors that they are eligible - with at least seven days between each assessment

A High Court would also have to rule each time a person make a request to end their life, with a patient then having to wait 14 days before acting.

Whilst the bill has not yet passed into law, it can now undergo further parliamentary scrutiny with the backing of the house.

Legislation on assisted dying was last voted on by MPs in 2015. Then, it was rejected by 330 votes to 118.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer had voiced his backing for a change in the law regarding assisted dying.

The bill had split the cabinet before the vote. Whilst the likes of Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said they would be backing the legislation, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood had opposed the proposals.

Former Prime Ministers Gordon Brown, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Theresa May had all said they were against the bill as well, whilst David Cameron voiced his support for it.