Commons set for historic assisted dying vote as Labour MP makes last plea – ‘appropriate injustice’

MPs will take part in a historic vote on Friday that could pave the way for assisted dying to be made legal in England and Wales.

Kim Leadbeater, the Labour backbencher pushing for the change in law, said on Thursday evening she hoped the Commons stands ready to “correct injustice and reduce human suffering”.

In a plea to MPs on the eve of the vote, she said: “People will be looking in on Parliament as it debates this important change to the law – a change that, when we most need it, could bring comfort to any one of us or to somebody we love.” The Labour MP added: “I believe in years to come people will look back on this as one of the great reforming parliaments of our generation.”

Her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill being voted on would allow those with a terminal illness – and with just six months left to live – to end their life early. Under current law, assisted suicide is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

But as one of the most emotive issues returns to the Commons – after a bid to change the law was defeated almost a decade ago – the outcome remains uncertain. Some senior Cabinet ministers, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, are expected to vote against the move.

Keir Starmer, who has previously said he supports a change in the law, has refused to be drawn on how he would cast his vote.

Asked for his view, the PM told a No10 press conference: “The vote is coming up tomorrow, obviously the Government is neutral on this and it is a genuinely free vote for all members of Parliament and I don’t want to put pressure on them.”

Referring to his time as Director of Public Prosecutions, he added: “I’ve obviously got a huge amount of interest and experience in this having looked at every single case for five years that was ever investigated. I will therefore be casting my vote tomorrow.”

Dozens of MPs are also still grappling with the monumental decision ahead of the debate, which is expected to last around five hours. If the vote passes, it will then progress to further stages in the Commons before being debated in the Lords.

On Thursday campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen, who sparked a national conversation on the issue, urged all MPs to attend the debate. She told The Mirror : “Every vote will be crucial and will make a difference.”

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the courage of bereaved families who have told their story, reliving some of their most painful memories in order to make it clear how cruel the current criminal law is and how urgently it needs to change.”

In a message to MPs, she went on: “It’s up to you to decide how you will vote but I’m just hoping and praying the evidence you hear during the debate will convince you that our law is a mess and must be changed.”

Last year the Childline founder revealed she had stage 4 lung cancer and had joined the Swiss assisted-dying clinic Dignitas. She added: “I think even if it goes through there will be the Committee stage and it will have to go to the House of Lords and so on.

“My miracle drug is working well at the moment but I know it’s not going to last forever and I would be very surprised indeed if the law is changed in time for me. I expect I will have to go to Dignitas in Switzerland to have a good death.

“So it’s not really about me, but I would be disappointed on behalf of all the families who’ve sacrificed so much to try and change the law as it must be changed.”

Dame Esther also defended Mr Starmer’s decision to remain neutral during the debate. She said: “I think that he was determined to try and stop it being a political issue.

“I remember asking him if he’d put it in his manifesto and he said no he wouldn’t because he just didn’t want to politicise it and I think he’s right. This has to be, for all of us, a personal choice. And that’s the point of the new Bill – give us the choice.”