MPs reject bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales
September 11, 2026 at 04:58 PM · Updated 35d ago
Coverage
10 reports · 1 in Arabic, 9 in English · over 15696 hours
Newspaper headlines: 'Military jet tripped chaos' and 'A failure for dying people'
(opens the publisher’s site)البرلمان البريطاني يسقط مشروع قانون "الموت الرحيم"
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Why did the assisted dying bill fail in the Commons? | Rowena Mason
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‘A tragic day’: campaigners react as MPs say no to legalising assisted dying
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UK lawmakers vote against bill to legalise assisted dying
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Why did MPs reject the assisted dying bill?
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MPs vote against fresh attempt to legalise assisted dying
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How did your MP vote on the reintroduced assisted dying bill?
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MPs vote against legalising assisted dying in England and Wales
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How does assisted dying work in other countries?
(opens the publisher’s site)The House of Commons voted 286 to 270 against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, ending the latest attempt to legalise assisted dying.
- MPs voted against the bill's second reading by a majority of 16, with a free vote across party lines.
- Labour MP Lauren Edwards, whose bill would have let adults with under six months to live end their lives with approval from two doctors and an expert panel, said Parliament "dropped the ball today."
- Terminally ill broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen said she was "deeply sad" that a change in the law "won't come soon enough for many of the people who need it."
- A near-identical bill by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater cleared the Commons in June 2025 but stalled in the House of Lords, where peers tabled over 1,200 amendments.
Latest developments
- Sep 11 — Support for the bill fell by 45 votes since June, with analysts blaming the defeat on low turnout and the influence of figures such as Andy Burnham.
- Sep 11 — Labour MP Janet Daby changed her position on conscience grounds, while some MPs missed the vote for personal reasons, including attending a wedding and a trip to Ukraine.
- Sep 11 — Kim Leadbeater said another attempt could come as soon as next year, though momentum has fallen for now.
- Sep 11 — The defeat is attributed to the bill lacking priority for Andy Burnham's government, which has shifted focus to improving end-of-life support.
- Sep 11 — Campaigners blame House of Lords amendments and safety objections, while backers plan to continue their efforts despite the defeat.