Result considered 'merely a first step' among opponents

Liberal Democrat Munira Wilson, who backed an amendment arguing the Bill had not had enough scrutiny, said MPs needed to "engage now with the process", adding that she hoped Kim Leadbeater "will take on board the concerns that were raised today".

Veteran Tory MP Bob Blackman, who also opposed the legislation, said it would be "interesting to see" how many continued to support the Bill after it had passed through the committee.

He said: "Those of us who oppose it will continue to oppose, right to third reading and beyond. This is merely a first step in, I suspect, a very, very long journey ahead before it's concluded."

Rishi Sunak votes in favour as he believes it will 'reduce suffering'

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak said he voted for the Bill as he believed it would help to "reduce suffering".

Writing for the Darlington and Stockton Times - his local newspaper - the Conservative MP for Richmond and Northallerton said: "On Friday, after much thought, I voted for the assisted dying Bill. This was a free vote, with MPs, rightly, allowed to follow their consciences, not the party line. MPs of all stripes voted for, and against, this change. There were people I am proud to call friends and whom I deeply admire in both lobbies."

He added: "I believe that, where possible, we should prevent suffering. I know from speaking and listening to many of you, that too many people have to go through painful, traumatic, drawn-out deaths.

"These moving, deeply personal stories have left a profound impression on me. This Bill will make these ordeals, which are so traumatic for patients and their families, less frequent: it will reduce suffering."

Mr Sunak described himself as a "religious person" and said he understood the "deep moral and philosophical concerns that many people have about this issue".

But he added: "I also come from a medical family and this question divides opinion among my own relatives. So, it is important to stress that any medical practitioner who has moral, religious or philosophical objections to this change will have the right not to be involved in this aspect of care."

'We are glad that MPs listened to the public and the evidence'

Pro-change campaigners said the vote in favour of assisted dying will leave thousands of people "heartened".

Trevor Moore, chairman of My Death, My Decision said: "Thousands of people will be heartened by this result. Every day, 20 people in the UK are suffering unbearable pain at the end of their lives despite receiving the best possible care. For them, the choices are stark and harrowing: travel to Switzerland, and end their life by suicide, stop eating or drinking, or face and agonising natural death.

"These people deserve better. They deserve the dignity of choice at the end of their lives, and we are relieved to see MPs acknowledge this. We are glad that MPs listened to the public and the evidence, and we hope this Bill will pass its subsequent stages through further respectful and essential debate."

There is still 'a long way to go', supporter admits

There is still "a long way to go" before assisted dying becomes law, one of the Bill's main supporters has said.

Conservative former minister Kit Malthouse, who co-sponsored the Bill, told the PA news agency: "It's been a 10-year project for me since the last vote in 2015. It's just been brilliant to support Kim to get it through. But there's still a long way to go, there's still a lot more to do."

Government 'remains neutral' and will respect will of Parliament

A spokesperson for Keir Starmer said that the Government's position on assisted dying "remains neutral".

The spokesperson said: "As is a matter of public record, the Prime Minister voted for the Assisted Dying Private Members' Bill. The Government's position remains neutral, and we will respect the will of Parliament."

Leading opponent says he is 'disappointed' at result

Danny Kruger, one of the leading opponents of the assisted dying legislation, said he was "disappointed" by the result but was pleased MPs "recognised that the Bill is very dangerous".

"I'm very disappointed that the House voted for second reading today, but as Kim Leadbeater and others repeatedly said, the vote was simply to continue the discussion," he said. "I want to hold them to that and I was reassured that so many colleagues recognised that the Bill is very dangerous, there's lots of problems with it and they have said they want to improve it in committee.

"I want to help them do that and I hope we can make substantial improvements before it comes back for third reading and I hope that if it's not good enough, if the safeguards are not strengthened then colleagues will vote against it before it comes into law."

Scottish politician says he is 'delighted' after Westminster vote

The MSP behind the Scottish Bill to introduce assisted dying said he is "delighted" after similar legislation passed its first hurdle at Westminster.

Liam McArthur's Member's Bill, which would allow certain terminally ill adults to request assistance to end their lives, is currently at the first of the Scottish Parliament's three-stage process before it can become law.

Just as in Westminster, MSPs will have a free vote on the issue and there have already been divisions which cut across party lines. The Scottish Parliament is expected to vote on the general principles of the Bill in late spring or early summer next year.

'I watched my wife suffocate to death as I couldn't grant her last wish'

A grieving husband who watched his beloved wife suffocate to death today told how she begged him to end her life.

Warwick Jackson, 63, is haunted by the memory of Ann’s final days spent gasping for breath and begging for help to end her agony. The couple, from Bridgnorth, Shropshire, were devastated when medics told Ann, 61, she had Stage 4 peritoneal cancer. She fought for nearly 18 months and was told she would die peacefully under the watchful supervision of palliative care nurses.

Read the full story here as Warwick explains why he backs a change in the law.

What happens now after MPs voted in favour?

The Bill will next go to committee stage where MPs can table amendments, and on Friday a motion was approved to allow the committee considering the Bill to have the power to send for people, papers and records as part of its sessions.

The Bill will face further scrutiny and votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest. Some MPs indicated during the debate that their support for the Bill might not continue at a further vote, if they are not convinced of the safeguards.

Kim Leadbeater has said it would likely be a further two years from then for an assisted dying service to be in place.

'Warm words won’t fix our broken end of life care system'

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive of Marie Curie, said: “Marie Curie remains neutral on the matter of assisted dying, but what we are absolutely not neutral on is the need to urgently fix end of life care. In recent weeks, many MPs have acknowledged the importance of palliative care. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care himself has even said that existing palliative care isn’t good enough.

“But warm words won’t fix our broken end of life care system. The bill says nothing about the urgent need to improve existing provision. It says nothing about the postcode lottery for access to end of life care, nothing about the funding crisis, and nothing about people spending their final moments in A&E because our health system can’t offer them the care and support they need, in or out of hours."

Christian Concern said the result marks a 'very Black Friday'

Religious groups have told of their concerns for vulnerable people after proposed assisted dying legislation cleared its first hurdle in Parliament.

Christian Concern said the result marks a "very Black Friday for the vulnerable in this country", while the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales asked people to "pray" MPs will have the "wisdom" to reject the bill at a later stage.

Meanwhile, the Church of England's lead bishop for healthcare, Dame Sarah Mullally, said that safeguarding the vulnerable "must now be our priority".

Crowds of supporters surrounded and hugged Kim Leadbeater outside Parliament

Crowds of supporters surrounded and hugged MP Kim Leadbeater outside Parliament after her assisted dying private members' Bill passed. Photographers and videographers chased after the Labour MP as she walked over to Parliament Square to celebrate with the supporters.

People shouted "thank you Kim" as she was mobbed by members of the public, activists, and the press. Speaking to reporters, Ms Leadbeater said: "It's been tough, you know, these families have campaigned on this issue for years.

"I know what it means to people, if we hadn't achieved what we achieved today I'd have let them down. I'm also really proud and really pleased that we had a very respectful debate in Parliament.

"It was robust but it was compassionate. Lots of people with different views, and I think Parliament showed itself in its best light today, and I'm very proud of that."

'I'm incredibly relieved and over the moon at the result'

A son whose father took his own life after suffering from multiple sclerosis said he was "incredibly relieved" the assisted dying Bill had passed.

Speaking from among a crowd of supporters of the Bill gathered outside Parliament, Anil Douglas, 35, from Walthamstow, London, said: "I'm incredibly relieved. I'm over the moon. MPs have voted for a safer, kinder, more compassionate future for dying people. I think it's wonderful."

Anil's father Ian Douglas took his own life after suffering from MS for years. He said he felt like his father's son today.

"I feel very much like his son today," he said. "He was an active campaigner in various causes throughout his life. Being here today, in his memory, and in his honour, fighting for a change I know he would have benefited from and would have supported, means the world to me."

He said he felt shock and a "deep-set relief" when he heard the result. "I think I was cautiously optimistic, but when that optimism became a reality - relief," he said.

Dame Esther Rantzen said she is 'absolutely thrilled' at the result

Dame Esther Rantzen said she is "absolutely thrilled" at the result of the historic vote for assisted dying, and spoke of future generations being spared the "ordeals" currently suffered.

The broadcaster, who is terminally ill, has been a strong advocate for changing the law to allow dying adults to take their own lives in limited circumstances, without fear of their families being prosecuted for helping them. The 84-year-old revealed in December last year that she had joined Dignitas, to give her the choice of an assisted death in Switzerland.

Speaking in the minutes after the result of the vote was read out in the House of Commons, Dame Esther said: "I listened to the debate and it was very deeply felt. Members of Parliament, whether they opposed it or proposed it, had obviously given it a great deal of thought, and right up to the end of the debate, I had no idea whether it would be voted through or not."

Dame Esther described Kim Leadbeater's introduction of her Bill as "extraordinary", adding: "She has a complete mastery of the facts. She knows exactly which are the most crucial points. She put it all very clearly, taking interventions all the way through, and answering them without ever losing the thread of her argument. I was lost in admiration. She's an extraordinary person."

'There is now going to be an additional moral weight upon people to end their own lives'

Christian Hacking, a "pro-life" activist, said he was "very disappointed" by the news and that it was "sadly predictable".

The 34-year-old from south-east London, who joined a protest outside Parliament on Friday calling on MPs to vote against the Bill, said: "There is now going to be an additional moral weight upon people to end their own lives which, once it percolates down, is going to affect the vulnerable."

Mr Hacking broke his back in a rock climbing accident in 2014 and described how the issue is "really personal" for him. He said: "A number of people who went through the same rehab I went through, went to Dignitas to kill themselves because they felt they couldn't cope with disability."

"I know that that despair is very real and that hopelessness is very real but I believe our humanity is so much greater than our utility," he added. "Why are we talking about how people can be assisted in killing themselves when actually we should be talking about how we can supercharge the palliative care system to help people die with dignity?"

'It’s a battle lost but the war is certainly not over'

Campaigners opposing the new legislation today called for “concerned” people to contact their MPs to voice their fears after it was backed in Parliament.

Among those opposing the bill was Nikki Kenward, who was a young mother, aged 36, when she went to hospital with a flu-like illness 34 years ago. Just a day later it had progressed to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its nerves.

She would be in intensive care for four-and-a-half months and in hospital for almost a year. Along with her husband and full-time carer Merv, 60, and son Alfie, 35, Nikki, now 71, has fought to stop changes to the assisted dying legislation.

Speaking after today’s vote, Merv, from Shropshire, said: “It’s a battle lost but the war is certainly not over. There are quite a lot of hoops to jump through before it becomes law and this provides an opportunity for concerned people to be in touch with their MPs to say, ‘What on earth are you thinking?’.”

'I'm absolutely delighted MPs voted Bill through'

Liz Reed, 38, from Ware, Herts, today told of her joy that MPs had backed the Bill. Stood alongside her mother, Lauraine, 74, and Rob's widow, Tess Smyth, 49, she said: "I’m absolutely delighted, it means so much for all those people who have had to watch someone they love die in such a terrible way.”

Liz told how she travelled to be at her brother’s assisted death in Queensland, Australia, where voluntary assisted dying is legal.

Rob, who died at 39, had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2023 and opted to end his life as his condition deteriorated.

How did the Cabinet vote on assisted dying?

How did the Cabinet vote on assisted dying?

YES - 15 ministers

PM Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, DWP Secretary Liz Kendall, Defence Secretary John Healey, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, Science and Tech Secretary Peter Kyle, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, Wales Secretary Jo Stevens, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury Sir Alan Campbell, Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell and Environment Secretary Steve Reed

NO - 8 ministers

Deputy PM Angela Rayner, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones and Equalities Minister Anneliese Dodds

No vote recorded - Scotland Secretary Ian Murray

Dignity in Dying hailed the vote as an 'historic step'

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, hailed the vote as an "historic step towards greater choice and protection for dying people".

She said: "Parliament has listened to dying people and is reflecting their views, at last. Many will be feeling overwhelming relief and gratitude that, today, our country has moved closer than ever before to a safer and more compassionate law.

“Today, MPs have voted for choice, safety and compassion. They have expressed the will of the British people and have made history. Now we must make the choice of assisted dying a reality.”

But she added: “Significant though this moment is, this is just the start of the journey for the Bill. In the months ahead, it will undergo detailed, clause by clause scrutiny by MPs, with further debate and votes on amendments in both Houses. Kim has asked for as much time as possible to be given for this process, and will take expert evidence, to ensure the Bill is as robust as it can possibly be."

Dying teacher Nathaniel Dye said Parliament 'showed itself at its best today'

Dying teacher Nathaniel Dye, who campaigned for Labour during the election, said Parliament "showed itself at its best today".

"Following five hours of detailed, respectful and measured debate, The House has spoken. It wasn’t easy to hear the bleak future of my final weeks and months discussed at such length but I applaud the MPs who spoke so thoughtfully on such a sensitive issue.

"Not least Kim Leadbeater who has done herself the greatest credit in the passionate, patient and sensitive way in which she has conducted herself in putting the Bill through Parliament. I am proud to say I know Kim because she has been the greatest champion for the most vulnerable in society - dying people, like me, at their darkest hour. I couldn’t be more proud of and grateful to Kim and all the colleagues and campaigners who have supported her in this vitally important cause."

MPs vote in favour of legalise assisted dying

Assisted dying could be legalised in England and Wales after a historic vote saw proposed legislation clear its first hurdle in Parliament.

A majority of MPs supported a Bill that would allow terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of less than six months to end their lives. MPs voted 330 to 275, majority 55, to approve Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at second reading.

Government minister pays tribute to campaigners

Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones, speaking from the government benches, declined to give her personal views on assisted dying but confirmed she would be voting on the Bill.

She told MPs: "I stand here today as the government minister responsible for the criminal law in this area, contained in the suicide act 1961 in England and Wales, as the government remains neutral on this topic of conscience, and out of respect for my ministerial colleagues who are not able to outline their views in today's debate, I will not be sharing my personal opinions on this matter."

Ms Davies-Jones used the final speech to praise campaigners on all sides, including Dame Esther Rantzen, Liz Carr, Nathaniel Dye and Baroness Grey-Thompson.

She said: "They have all used their voices to advocate what they believe, and have contributed significantly to the important national conversation around death. Regardless of views, the one thing we have in common is that we will all experience death at some point.

"Death is a topic we do not tend to talk about very much. For these discussions have undoubtedly enabled families up and down the country to talk openly about their wishes and how they feel about their own death. That powerful level of honesty is a tribute to how members of this House and campaigners have conducted themselves throughout and I thank them for informing today's debate."

Commons has spoken with 'voice of passion'

Shadow Justice minister Dr Kieran Mullan, who has worked as a doctor in A&E, said he has “struggled” with deciding how to vote, admitting no “perfect” decision will be made.

But he spoke in favour of the Bill to give people the “choice” if they want it. “Some people may not want to spend their final days in a drug-induced state of consciousness to manage their pain,” he said.

He said one principle should guide the debate above all, that MPs should “vote with great humility” and respect one another’s views. Speaking to the public, he commended that despite opposing views “one voice” had been heard during the debate today: “The voice of passion”.

“That passion represents this House at the very best,” he said.

Diagnoses of how long people have left to live 'is not an exact science'

Labour MP Dawn Butler has said she will be voting against the legislation as 80% of her constituents are against the Bill.

She choked up as she told a story about a woman, Nina Lopez, who died of cancer earlier this week. She said Nina was given six months to live in 2018. “It’s not an exact science when somebody’s given a six-month diagnosis to live,” she said.

No10 declines to say how the PM will vote

Downing Street declined to say how Keir Starmer will vote on assisted dying legislation but said he is paying close attention to the debate in the Commons.

"He's obviously paying extremely close attention to the debate. Ministers must be able to vote according to their conscience," the Prime Minister's deputy spokesman said.

He added: "People across the country will be paying extremely close attention to today's vote, but this is a matter of conscience.

"It is for Parliament to decide changes to the law, and the Prime Minister is on record as saying he's not going to say or do anything that will put pressure on other people in relation to their vote.

"Every MP will have to make his or her mind up and decide what they want to do when that vote comes."

Florence Eshalomi fights back tears as she describes how her late mother 'wanted to live'

Labour MP Florence Eshalomi gave an emotional speech opposing the bill, saying: "As a society we risk pushing people to seek an early death".

She fought back tears as she described her late mother's struggles with chronic illness.

She said: "I cannot in good conscience support this. My late mother lived with chronic illness all her life and I knew that one day her pain would be too unbearable for her but she did not let that limit her.

"She wanted to live. I believe this bill will not protect the wishes of people in her situation."

Robert Jenrick says 'bad law' on such an important issue would be 'unforgivable'

Top Tory Robert Jenrick spoke agains the bill, saying: "Bad law on matters of life and death is unforgivable."

The Shadow Justice Secretary argued that the proposed legislation would be too secretive, with no right to appeal.

"This is not a transparent process, and that leaves it woefully open to abuse," he said, and said he would vote against it.

Keir Starmer under pressure to give more time to the Bill

Former Tory Cabinet minister David Davis says he will vote for the Bill ater changing his mind. But he warned he could vote against it at a later date as he stongly urged the Government to give MPs more time to debate it in future.

Sir David described himself as a believer in the "sanctity of life" but also in freedom from torture and misery, and confirmed he would support its continuation through Parliament. He said if it resembled Australia's laws he would vote for it but would be against it if it veered more towards Canads's model.

In a direct message to Labour ministers, he said: "This Bill is more important than most of the Bills in your manifesto."

He added: "More people care about this than they care about most other things we are doing, so it deserves four days in report stage in Government time over the course of several weeks. We don't need a Royal Commission, this House can do this, but it needs to be given the option to do it.

"So I say to the Government the path of responsibility is give us the time to get this right, and if we get it right it will be one of the things we will be proudest of in the coming years until we eventually leave this place."

Bill puts 'enormous pressure' on elderly, disabled people and poor people

Labour MP Paulette Hamilton, who is a member of the Commons health and social care select committe, said there were “too many blindspots” in the Bill as she said she would vote against it.

In a passionate speech, she said legalising assisted dying would put "enormous pressure” on elderly, disabled people and poor people. She also said there was "nothing concrete” in the legislation to help hospices and palliative care.

Senior Tory says it would be a 'tragedy' if Bill was defeated

Senior Tory MP and former chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee Alicia Kearns has spoken in support of the Bill.

She spoke about her mum, who died in pain, having told her: “I cannot go on like this.” Ms Kearns went on: “To deny choice to others, especially those with only have six months to live, especially when their choice does you no harm, is wrong."

Addressing criticism of the use of a private members’ bill as a form to change the law on assisted dying, she listed examples of social reform that were brought through them: “The abolition of the death penalty, the legalisation of abortion, the decriminalisation of homosexuality, all things I hope this House would unite on.”

Ms Kearns said "this is the start of the process of debate" and that it would be a "tragedy if defeated today”. She said she learned early in her career that when peple promise that things will come later "this is a promise that no action will come at all”.