MP for Penarth Stephen Doughty voted against assisted dying

A historic vote saw assisted dying proposed legislation leap its first hurdle in Parliament last week.  

The vote on the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 ayes and 275 noes. 

A four-hour long debate was held with more than 160 MPs requesting to speak but less allowed due to time constraints. 

What is the assisted dying bill? 

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) ill will allow someone with the mental capacity to make a choice about ending their life.  

This has to be an expression of a ‘clear, settled and informed’ wish, free from coercion or pressure, at every stage of the process.  

It will be required that two independent doctors and a High Court judge are satisfied someone is eligible and has voluntarily made their own decision. 

Proponents and opponents of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill demonstrate outside Westminster (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Who voted for and against? 

This was what is called a ‘free vote’ which allows MPs to make up their own minds rather than following a party line. 

In South Wales, the MPs of the same political party and of neighbouring constituencies voted differently.  

MP for South Cardiff and Penarth, Stephen Doughty voted against the bill, while the MPs for Cardiff West, Cardiff North, and Cardiff East all voted in favour. 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the former Conservative leader Rishi Sunak voted in favour, while new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch voted against. 

In the cabinet, 15 members including Rachel Reeves and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper voted for the bill and eight voted against it. 

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What happens next? 

The UK government has taken a neutral stance on the proposed legislation and says it will implement it is backed by Parliament. 

The next step for the Bill is the committee stage where MMPS can table amendments before it is scrutinized again. 

The assisted dying proposed legislation will then be voted on again in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. 

This will likely take several months, so the new legislation will not come into effect until next year.