“A compassionate and historic decision: giving dignity and choice at the end of life.”

Tom Gordon MP welcomes Parliament’s breakthrough vote to progress the assisted dying Bill

Tom Gordon MP has welcomed today’s landmark vote on Kim Leadbeater MP’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which aims to legalise the choice of assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults. The Bill passed its Second Reading with a majority of 330 to 275, marking a significant step forward for the campaign to provide safe, compassionate end-of-life choices in the UK.

Speaking after the vote, Tom Gordon MP said:

“Today, Parliament took a historic and compassionate step towards giving people dignity and choice at the end of their lives. This Bill, supported by a clear majority of MPs, reflects the views of the British public, who overwhelmingly want to see this compassionate and safeguarded option become law.

“Thank you to everyone on both sides of this debate who has contacted me with their thoughts over recent weeks and months, often sharing touching personal stories.

“This is about empowering terminally ill people who are suffering unbearably, with no hope of recovery, to make the decision that is right for them. It’s about providing choice, alongside excellent palliative care, while ensuring robust safeguards to protect the vulnerable.

“I want to thank Kim Leadbeater MP for her leadership and integrity in guiding this Bill through such an emotional and nuanced debate. And I want to pay tribute to the campaigners, families, and terminally ill people whose courage has brought this issue to the forefront of our democracy.

“As the Bill moves to the Committee Stage, I look forward to working with colleagues to ensure that this legislation is as strong, safe, and compassionate as it can possibly be. We owe it to those facing unimaginable suffering to make this choice a reality.”

Hundreds of campaigners gathered outside Parliament today in support of the Bill, including terminally ill individuals and their families, reflecting widespread public demand for reform. In-depth polling consistently shows that three-quarters of the British public support legalising assisted dying, with majority support in every constituency across Great Britain.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will now move to the Committee Stage, where MPs will scrutinise every detail of the proposed legislation.

This vote comes against a backdrop of growing momentum for assisted dying laws across the UK, including progress in the parliaments of Scotland, Jersey, and the Isle of Man, as well as successful implementation in countries such as New Zealand, Australia, and parts of the United States.

ENDS