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UK MPs in Knife-Edge Vote Today on Assisted Dying Bill

Nov 29, 2024, 04:30 AM

British MPs are set to vote on Friday on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales with less than six months to live. Introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, the bill has ignited significant debate among lawmakers and the public. Surveys suggest support among MPs is growing, with estimates indicating 264 in favor and 215 against, but the outcome remains too close to call due to many undecided legislators. The prime minister has granted MPs a free vote on the issue. If passed, it would be the first time in nearly a decade that such legislation has advanced in Parliament, potentially making England and Wales among the first in the UK to legalize assisted dying. The bill follows the decriminalization of attempted suicide in 1961. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has indicated that if the bill passes, officials will work to strengthen it through amendments. The debate has drawn significant attention, with campaigners gathering outside Parliament and extensive media coverage.