Assisted dying bill passes after vote, paving the way for historic change

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy MPs have taken a historic step towards legalising assisted dying in England and Wales, by voting in favour of a bill that would support terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of six months or less to end their lives. Campaigners in favour of assisted dying hailed the outcome, saying: “Thousands of people will be heartened by this result.” But campaigners who had been fighting against it promised: “This is not over.” open image in gallery MPs gather to hear the result of the vote on the Terminally Ill Adults Bill The bill will now go to the committee stage, where MPs can table amendments, before facing further votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The broadcaster, who is terminally ill, said minutes after the historic vote: “It’s going to take probably almost two years for it to change the law, and I’d be astonished if the drug I’m on manages to extend my life that far.” open image in gallery The broadcaster Esther Rantzen, who is terminally ill, has been a strong advocate of changing the law to allow dying adults to take their own lives in limited circumstances Trevor Moore, chair of the campaign group My Death, My Decision, said: “Thousands of people will be heartened by this result. The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale warned of the potential for “self-coercion” and said: “My opposition to this bill is grounded in compassion.” open image in gallery Campaigners react on hearing the result A Labour MP who has lived with a disability all her life said she would support the assisted dying bill, but described the decision as “one of the hardest that I have had to make”.