Politics latest: Emotional speeches in parliament as MPs debate assisted dying , with result of vote uncertain (2024)

If you're just joining us, it has been an emotional morning as MPs have been debating whether to advance legislation to legalise assisted dying.

It has been a calm and respectful debate on such a difficult topic, with many MPs recounting deeply personal stories.

If you haven't been able to tune here, here is a round-up of some of the key speeches, with the arguments for and against the bill:

ByTamara Cohen, political correspondent

After a strong intervention against the bill from former psychiatrist Dr Ben Spencer, a Tory MP, we have a medic speaking in favour.

Peter Prinsley, newly-elected Labour MP for Bury St Edmunds, has been one of the leading supporters of assisted dying and is a former consultant ENT surgeon.

He told MPs: "Assisted dying is already occurring in unregulated ways, with up to 650 terminally ill people taking their own lives each year, often in traumatic circumstances, causing additional pain for their loved ones.

"This bill promotes freedom of choice at the end of life in a controlled and regulated manner. "

The number of assisted deaths which could flow from this bill is hard to predict, but opponents point to reports of coercion among those in Canada and Oregon where it is legal.

The British Medical Association and royal colleges have taken a neutral view on assisted dying, but the group representing palliative care doctors is against it.

Dame Meg Hillier has spoken very movingly in parliament about her daughter becoming extremely ill, and why that means she opposes legalising assisted dying.

The long-serving Labour MP said they have heard "heartbreaking stories" from across the House today, saying: "The principle at stake is that we do cross a Rubicon whereby somebody who is terminally ill by the definition of this Bill is assisted by the state to die.

"This is a fundamental change in the relationship between the state and the citizen, and the patient and their doctor.

"If we have a scintilla of doubt about allowing the state that power, we should vote against this today."

Dame Meg went on to argue that "a failure in palliative care and support is not a reason to continue" with the bill.

She then became very emotional as she spoke about her daughter: "She was admitted to hospital with acute pancreatitis as a teenager, so this bill would not have covered her at that point, but I did not know for five days, in fact many months, whether she would live or die.

"Those first five days she did not sleep, and she was crying out in pain.

"But I saw what good medicine can do that palliated that pain, that got her to a place where although for two-and-a-half months she was unable to eat, she was saved and the key was she was not in pain - well, she was in pain, but it was managed."

She told the House that she had not intended to discuss such a personal matter publicly, saying: "I hope [my daughter] forgives me for raising her personal situation in the House today."

ByTamara Cohen, political correspondent

Dr Ben Spencer, a Conservative MP with a PhD in decision-making capacity, had tabled the "reasoned amendment" calling for more scrutiny before this question is considered.

He told MPs that there is a version of assisted dying which addresses concerns about coercion but he argues that this isn't it.

"I believe legislation on assisted dying could be brought in that has fully reviewed and addressed these issues", he said. "But parliamentarians must deal with what we have in front of us today."

"I think about the elderly, women in the care home with mild cognitive impairment retained capacity, but nevertheless vulnerable to coercion and undue influence of the sick mother whose child may lose their job or relationship due to the burden of caring responsibilities.

"This bill doesn't protect them. It risks placing implicit pressure on people already vulnerable at a time of life", he said.

Downing Street has just announced that Heidi Alexander is the new transport secretary, following the resignation of Louise Haigh.

The Swindon South MP had been serving as a justice minister until her promotion today.

She was London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s deputy transport mayor between 2018-2021.

Alexander has a lengthy career in politics preceding that, having been the MP for Lewisham East from 2010-2018, when she was the shadow health secretary during the junior doctors' contract strikes.

Read more from Sky News:

As MPs debate whether to progress the legislation that would see assisted dying legalised, both proponents and opponents of it are gathered outside parliament.

They were there as MPs were arriving for the debate, and are hoping they can influence how today's vote goes.

Here are some photos from the protest this morning.

Our news correspondent Matthew Thompsonhas been speaking to some of the protesters outside parliament.

Watch what they had to say here:

ByTamara Cohen, political correspondent

An interesting moment in the Commons as health secretary Wes Streeting who opposes the bill, turns to give a sympathetic smile to Rachel Maskell, as she argues palliative care fails too many people.

"We must give my right hon. friend the health secretary, after Lord Darzi's devastating report, the opportunity to reset health and care", she says.

Streeting is understood to have angered cabinet colleagues by arguing that he feels the risk of coercion is too great, and palliative care is not good enough to give people a real choice.

Maskell also says this debate has "consumed us" and this will only escalate if the bill passes this stage.

Mr Streeting would have to be the health secretary who examines the impact and then implements it if it passes the next stages.

Lord Darzi is a former health minister whose rapid review of the NHS commissioned by the Labour government, concluded it is in a "critical condition".

ByTamara Cohen, political correspondent

The first MP to admit having changed their mind on this subject is Conservative Andrew Mitchell, who used to be against assisted dying when it was last debated in 2015, but is now in favour.

He says the fact that many more jurisdictions are allowing it is an argument in favour.

He said he'd been left in "floods of tears" by stories of families who had seen loved ones suffering at the end of their lives.

"If this bill does not go through a second reading, that will be the end of the matter for, many years", he said.

"And we would do so, we would do so in the knowledge, Madam Deputy Speaker, that Scotland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, many other countries are likely to bring in legislation like this.

"There are 300 million people in 30 jurisdictions who have secured this ability to choose."

Supporters of assisted dying have claimed in recent days and weeks that they have a number of MPs who have changed their minds on the issue. That will be tested in a few hours' time.

Diane Abbott is next to express her view in the assisted dying debate, which is that it should not be legalised.

The Labour MP tells the House: "In 1969, parliament voted to abolish the death penalty for murder.

"Public opinion was actually against it, but MPs believed [as] a point of principle that the state should not be involved in taking a life.

"It was a good principle in 1969, and it remains a good principle today."

She goes on to say that she does not believe that the safeguards in the bill are "not sufficient", and argues that courts and judges can get things wrong.

"Far from being a genuine safeguard, the involvement of a judge could just be a rubber stamp."

Ms Abbott also argues that banning coercion will not mean that it does not happen, saying: "Coercion is something that you have no material evidence of and that you cannot see."

On whether the bill will be enforced as written, she points to Canada extending assisted dying beyond just those who are terminally ill.

Kemi Badenoch has announced that she will be voting against the bill to legalise assisted dying.

In an article for The Times newspaper, the Tory leader argued that, when in government, she saw that "our healthcare system is not able to cope with complex issues requiring serious safeguarding".

She pointed to the issuing of puberty blockers, that she described as "irreversible and damaging treatments" to young people.

"I saw a culture in which patients and parents felt unable to challenge medical professionals, and medical professionals were fearful of questioning patients," she wrote.

She also said there has been on formal public consultation on the legislation, nor a "robust discussion" with the people in government who would be tasked with carrying out the policy.

She went on: "I do not believe there are effective protections in this bill for patients who feel they are a burden to their families or are pressured by circumstances.

"It is not clear how doctors would identify dishonesty or coercion, or how the courts will have scope to inquire into it."

Mrs Badenoch also argued that the legislation is "too important to be rushed", and said she decided to vote against it when the PM dismissed a request to allow two days of debate on it.

"Without robust safeguards proposed, improved end-of-life care and the proper vehicle for serious debate and scrutiny, we are not ready for this legislation," she wrote.

"We have been here before: when reasonable concerns about how legislation will work, or is working, have been dismissed.I firmly believe that assisted dying is something we need to consider properly.

"It is something that requires a full review and a vote on the principle ahead of detailed work with all relevant groups."

She concluded with her political slogan: "It's time for politicians to tell the truth, and that means accepting that the first duty of MPs is to get the law right."