24 Welsh MPs support change in end-of-life law

A CONTROVERSIAL bill to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults has passed through the House of Commons, setting in motion one of the most profound changes to UK law in decades.

The Assisted Dying Bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, was approved on Friday (June 20) by 314 votes to 291—a narrow majority of 23. It gives terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with a prognosis of six months or less, the legal right to request medical help to end their lives.

The measure now heads to the House of Lords, where peers will scrutinise the legislation. If passed, it could receive royal assent by the end of the year, with implementation expected within four years.

Welsh MPs back change

Of the 32 MPs representing Wales, 24 voted in favour, 7 voted against, and 1 was absent. Among those supporting the bill was Henry Tufnell, the Labour MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire.

Mr Tufnell had signalled his support for the bill as early as November 2024, stating that he believed in offering people “a compassionate choice” at the end of life, provided robust safeguards were in place.

He voted in favour at Third Reading on Friday, telling The Herald: “This is a deeply personal and moral issue. I believe it is possible to offer people choice while still protecting the most vulnerable. The safeguards in this bill are strong, and I was proud to support it.”

The majority of Welsh Labour MPs supported the legislation, as did Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick and Plaid Cymru’s Ben Lake.

What the law proposes

If the law passes all stages, it will allow eligible adults in England and Wales to request an assisted death, subject to strict conditions:

They must be aged 18 or over, resident in the UK, and diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less.

They must be of sound mind and acting voluntarily.

Approval must be given by two independent doctors, and a multi-disciplinary panel including a psychiatrist, a social worker, and a senior lawyer.

Patients would be required to self-administer the life-ending medication. Criminal sanctions would apply to anyone found coercing a vulnerable individual into ending their life.

Emotional debate in the Commons

The Commons debate on the bill was described by many MPs as one of the most emotional in years. Members from all parties shared deeply personal accounts of family members suffering through painful and undignified deaths.

Labour’s David Burton-Sampson said he was initially opposed to assisted dying because of his Christian beliefs, but had changed his mind after hearing from constituents.

“My faith teaches compassion,” he said. “For some, this law will bring peace and dignity. That is not something to be feared.”

Conversely, Labour MP Diane Abbott spoke out against the bill, saying: “I came to this House to be a voice for the voiceless. Who could be more voiceless than someone dying in pain and poverty, who feels like a burden?”

The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, warned that the new law could risk normalising death as a solution in a health and social care system already under pressure.

Concerns from disabled groups

Outside Parliament, disabled people’s organisations staged protests warning that the bill could place pressure on the vulnerable to end their lives prematurely. Some MPs echoed those concerns, saying the focus should instead be on properly funded palliative care.

Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft, who resigned the whip earlier in the week in protest over disability cuts, voted against the bill. “Disabled people want help to live, not to die,” she said.

Opponents had hoped to delay the bill’s progress but failed to secure enough support. Several last-minute amendments were passed, including a requirement for a government review of palliative care provision.

Implementation timeline

If the House of Lords approves the bill, it will receive royal assent later this year. However, the law will not come into effect immediately. The government and NHS will have up to four years to set up the new system, including professional training, guidance, and infrastructure.

It remains unclear whether the service will be delivered by the NHS, private providers, or a combination of both—and whether it will be free at the point of use.

UK joins global shift

If implemented, England and Wales will join a growing list of jurisdictions where assisted dying is legal under strict conditions. These include Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and several US states including Oregon and California.

Polling suggests widespread public support for reform. A recent YouGov survey found eight in ten UK adults support assisted dying for those with terminal illnesses, though support tends to drop when mental health or non-terminal conditions are included.

Reaction from campaigners

Dame Esther Rantzen, who has terminal lung cancer and has long campaigned for the right to die with dignity, said: “I won’t live to see the law come into effect, but I’m so relieved that future generations will have a choice I never did.”

The campaign group Dignity in Dying called it a “historic moment where compassion and evidence prevailed over fear.”