Assisted dying law – what comes next?

By 330 votes to 275, following less than five hours of debate, the vote split traditional party divisions to back the proposed bill to permit assisted dying. It was notable that as the vote tally was read out in the chamber of the House of Commons there was not the customary cheering when votes are won, but instead a sombre silence that reflected the gravity of the decision being taken.

This does not mean it has become law, yet, but it indicates an uphill struggle in the months ahead that we at the Evangelical Alliance, along with many co-campaigners, are resolved to continue.

Responding to the vote Gavin Calver, CEO of the Evangelical Alliance, said: ​“I’m deeply disappointed parliament has voted to progress this bill to legalise assisted suicide. This is the biggest proposed change to our social fabric in a generation. Sadly, this bill will normalise suicide in our society as a positive option and places the most vulnerable at risk of abuse and coercion. We will continue to work to ensure that the bill does not become law.”

During the debate on 29 November politicians from every party spoke both in favour and against the bill which has been introduced by Labour backbench MP Kim Leadbeater. Most Liberal Democrat MPs voted in favour of the bill, although not current and former leaders Ed Davey and Tim Farron; most Conservative MPs voted against, including leader Kemi Badenoch, but former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak voted in favour. Labour MPs were more likely to be in favour of the change, including Kier Starmer, but many senior government ministers, including the health and justice secretaries Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood, voted against.

One of the most notable contributions during the debate came from Labour MP Florence Eshalomi, who concluded her speech with these words:

“My late mother lived with chronic illness all her life, and I knew that one day her pain would be too unbearable for her, but she did not let that limit her. She wanted to live. I do not believe that the Bill would protect the wishes of people in her situation, because freedom in death is possible only if we have had freedom in life. How can we possibly be satisfied that this Bill will deliver equality and freedom in death when we do not yet have it in life?”

The next stage for this bill is for it to be considered by a parliamentary committee and in an unusual but welcome step parliament agreed to strengthen this stage of the process to allow evidence to be submitted and for the committee to call witnesses. The membership of this committee will broadly reflect the vote in parliament, meaning that without the agreement of members supporting the new law amendments will not be agreed.

Once the details of this committee and how to submit evidence are finalised, we will be encouraging members to engage, and in particular those with experience supporting people close to death, or in the medical or legal professions. 

The proposed law will return to the House of Commons for further debate in Spring 2025, most likely on 25 April, and this will be a crucial vote. A significant number of MPs who voted for the law expressed concerns about some of its features and noted the insufficiency of its safeguards, as well as MPs who did not vote at this stage. If the House of Commons votes again in favour of the law it will then move to the House of Lords for consideration next summer. 

While parliament has indicated its support to introduce assisted dying, it is not a foregone conclusion that it will become law. In the coming months we will be working hard to prevent this, and we will be working with many others equally committed to doing so. We hope you will join us in this work, demonstrating to politicians the vital need to safeguard the dignity of all people at all points in life.