“A Matter of Life and Death”: Assisted dying bill clears the commons

Background

In a historic vote on 20 June 2025, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (the ‘Bill’) has passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons. The controversial Bill, which seeks to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales, has been met with increased criticism and debate as it has progressed through the Commons. In Friday’s vote, it narrowly passed by a margin of 23 votes, compared to 55 votes at the Second Reading, with 24 MPs changing their stance to oppose the Bill. Similarly, 21 MPs who previously voted chose to abstain this time, indicating waning confidence in the Bill as it currently stands. Notably, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has continued to vote against the Bill.

Final Report Stage Debates

In our earlier article Revisions still in progress: Assisted dying bill faces a wave of amendments, we discussed the large number of amendments proposed at Report Stage, including those which were unable to be put to vote. The final Report Stage proceedings on 20 June gave MPs a chance to consider outstanding amendments.

A key amendment passed, proposed by MP Naz Shah, excludes individuals who meet the eligibility criteria solely due to stopping eating or drinking voluntarily from accessing assisted dying services. This provision, which was supported by the Bill’s sponsor Kim Leadbeater, seeks to ensure those with treatable or preventable illnesses are not caught in the scope of the Bill.

Other amendments were also proposed to reduce the scope of eligibility, such as excluding those who were motivated by “suicidal ideation”, “financial considerations”  or “not wanting to be a burden”. However, this clause was rejected. Another area of concern debated during the Report Stage included the presumption of mental capacity, with an amendment instead suggesting that the individual should have to prove they have mental capacity. This amendment was also rejected. 

Third Reading

While the Report Stage only dealt with amendments to the Bill, the Third Reading gave MPs the opportunity to vote on the Bill in principle. The emotive debate gave rise to various MPs sharing their own personal stories, highlighting the very real effect the Bill will have if passed. However, this is precisely why the Bill has been so heavily contested.

While supporters of the Bill focused on arguments of autonomy, stating individuals should be able to decide “when enough is enough”, critics, such as James Cleverly, stated that although everyone was “sympathetic” to the underlying motive of the Bill, there were ongoing concerns that the Bill had not properly been scrutinised, and risks of coercion and abuse had not yet been effectively safeguarded against. Labour MP Dianne Abbott, referring to it as “a matter of life and death”, highlighted the weight of legalising assisted dying without thorough consideration, warning “what could be more appalling than losing your life due to poorly drafted legislation?”.  Her comments echoed a broader concern raised by critics that while the Bill's intentions may be compassionate, its current form leaves room for uncertainty and unintended consequences. For many MPs, this tension between principle and practical implementation remains at the heart of the debate.

Next steps

The Bill will now progress to the House of Lords, where it will be further scrutinised. While it is widely expected that the Lords will not block its passage, significant opposition and further amendments could delay progress. Following consideration in the Lords, the Bill will return to the Commons for MPs to review any changes made. Once both Houses are in agreement, the Bill will require Royal Assent before becoming law. As noted in our previous article, there is a risk that the parliamentary session may conclude before the Bill is finalised. Should the Bill pass however, it is anticipated to include a four-year implementation period, meaning it would not come into effect until at least 2029. 

We will continue to monitor the progress of the Bill, and our team is on hand to assist with your regulatory queries. 

Co-authored by Areesha Qureshi, Solicitor Apprentice