MPs in Parliament have narrowly voted to approve plans to legalise assisted dying in the crucial third reading vote.

The private members bill by Labour’s Kim Leadbeater, sister of murdered MP Jo Cox, was backed by 314 MPs and opposed by 291 — a margin of just 23 votes. It will now need to go through the House of Lords before it can become law.

Ms Leadbeater said the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would “offer a compassionate and safe choice to terminally ill people who want to make it.” But critics, who include mother of the house Diane Abbot (also Labour), have warned that the bill lacks safeguards and vulnerable people could end up losing their lives who otherwise would not have.

Speaking in the House of Commons debate earlier today, Liberal Democrat Bath MP Wera Hobhouse said she faced emails from constituents implying that MPs were “too stupid or careless” to care for the vulnerable. She asked Ms Leadbeater: “Is it not true that we all do care, whatever decision we make today, and that we have to continue to educate people and tell them what this Bill is about?”

Ms Leadbeater said Ms Hobhouse was “absolutely right.” She said: “We know that there are different views within the public, and we have to take on board the concerns of vulnerable groups — that is why the safeguards are so important — but I would also say that there is no one more vulnerable than someone who is dying.”

The vote was a free vote, meaning MPs were free to vote based on conscience instead of being instructed by their political party. All 11 MPs representing constituencies in Somerset, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset voted on the bill — including Dan Norris who cast a proxy vote while banned from the parliamentary estate.

Here is how they voted:

  • Wera Hobhouse (Bath, Liberal Democrat) - AYE
  • Dan Norris (North East Somerset & Hanham, Independent) – AYE*
  • Dan Aldridge (Weston-super-Mare, Labour) – AYE
  • Sadik Al-Hassan (North Somerset, Labour) – AYE
  • Gideon Amos (Taunton and Wellington, Liberal Democrat) – NO
  • Adam Dance (Yeovil, Liberal Democrat) – AYE
  • Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton, Liberal Democrat) – AYE
  • Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater, Conservative) – AYE
  • Rachel Gilmour (Tiverton and Minehead, Liberal Democrat) – AYE
  • Tessa Munt (Wells and Mendip Hills, Liberal Democrat) – AYE
  • Anna Sabine (Frome and East Somerset, Liberal Democrat) – AYE

*Dan Norris’ vote was a proxy vote cast by Labour whip Chris Elmore. The North East Somerset and Hanham MP is understood to be currently banned from the parliamentary estate under Parliament’s risk-based exclusion policy after he was arrested in April on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl, rape, child abduction, and misconduct in a public office.

He has not been charged. The investigation is ongoing and he remains on police bail. Mr Norris was elected as a Labour MP but was suspended from the party upon his arrest.

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