How Gedling borough’s MPs voted on historic assisted dying bill

History was made in Parliament yesterday as MPs backed proposals to legalise assisted dying.

Both Gedling borough Labour MPs Michael Payne and Michelle Welsh supported the bill.

In letters to constituents, both MPs outlined their reasons for backing the bill.

Payne wrote: “Having lost two family members to motor neurone disease, where there was no cure, where the pain and suffering was acute and where death was certain, I am persuaded by the argument that those diagnosed with a terminal illness, with fewer than six months to live, who have the agency to make that decision, should be able to request and be provided with assistance to make their own choice, subject to the safeguards and protections that this bill provides.”

Welsh wrote: “This is only the first vote on the Bill. At this stage, I remain undecided on how I will cast my final vote, but my current inclination is to support the Bill tomorrow to move the process to the next stage and to allow for more detailed secrutiny. Should the Bill pass tomorrow, this will not be the final decision.

“There will be further opportunities for MPs to vote on this matter.”

Members of all political parties were split by the controversial proposals but the second reading of the bill passed by with a 55-vote majority following a five-hour debate.

The vote agrees in principle that assisted dying should become legal in the UK for those with a terminal illness.

But there will be further scrutiny and examination before it returns to parliament with an amendment and then heads on to the House of Lords before it comes into law.

Out of the 650 MPs, 330 voted for and 275 voted against. Some 45 MPs abstained but the bill would have passed regardless of their decision.

Party whips allowed a free vote because of the sensitivity of the bill, meaning they could not pressure MPs to support or oppose the bill to follow the party line.

This led to voting being split across parties and a significant amount of debating in the lead-up with MPs weighing up the ethics around the bill.

Labour MPs largely voted in favour of the vote with 234 MPs voting for and 147 against.

Conservative MPs largely voted against the Bill with 92 MPs voting against and 23 for.

Liberal Democrats MPs largely voted in favour of the Bill with 61 MPs voting for and 11 against.