Majority of North East MPs vote against assisted dying

The majority of North East MPs voted against a bill that would legalise assisted dying, it can be revealed, which passed its second reading in the House of Commons today.

Members of Parliament in our region including in the North East voted on The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill today (November 29) that would allow terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to end their life legally.

While some say people should have the freedom to end their own lives to stop or avoid suffering, others have argued it could create a “slippery slope towards death on demand”.

Today, the debate was introduced by Kim Leadbeater, MP for Spen Valley who called it a "difficult decision" and heard from dozens of MPs both for and against the bill at its second reading.

The majority of MPs in our region voted against the bill.

Overall, 330 MPs voted for the bill and 275 against, meaning it will move to the committee stage.

42 MPs, including speakers of the house, did not record a vote.

Here is how every North East MP voted on the bill and what they said about it.

Against: Lola McEvoy - Darlington

Lola McEvoy voted against the bill today.

In a statement on Facebook, she wrote: "So many constituents have been in touch with strongly held convictions on both sides of the debate and I would like to thank them for doing so, especially those who have shared very painful personal experiences with me. I was incredibly moved by your stories.

"After a huge amount of consideration, I ultimately voted against the Bill at this stage. While I support the intentions and my instinct is to allow people freedom of choice when facing the prospect of a painful and harrowing death, I have serious concerns about the plans for implementation that I just could not overlook.

"My primary concern is that while our palliative care sector is one of the best in the world, in its current state it may struggle to cope with the additional load, potentially leading to worse outcomes for those at the end of their lives and their families, despite the best intentions."

(Image: LOLA MCEVOY)

Against: Sam Rushworth - Bishop Auckland

In an open letter yesterday (November 28) Mr Rushworth said: "I owe it to my constituents to be upfront that I will be arguing and voting against the Bill tomorrow.

"I know that many of you will be relieved, while others will feel hurt and disappointed by my decision. This is not a decision I take lightly.

"On most issues, my heart beats liberal. The power of parliament to deny people a freedom they are campaigning for should only ever be used when there is a strong justification in the public interest.

"It is never the role of parliament to legislate on whether a person’s choice is “right” or “wrong” in any religious or moral sense. Such decisions belong only to the individual.

"However, it is the responsibility of parliament to defend the common good and particularly to protect the vulnerable, and sometimes that must come at the expense of individual freedom."

Read the full letter here: Why I voted against the assisted dying Bill

Sam Rushworth.

Against: Mary Kelly Foy - City of Durham

During the debate, Ms Foy spoke up about her daughter Maria - who lived with disabilities and passed away at just 27-years-old.

Ms Foy voted against the bill.

She said: "My daughter Maria lived her life with severe disabilities and health conditions, and since her birth she and we were told many times that she might have only six months to live. She lived for 27 years.

"Crucially, Maria was non-verbal and I am filled with dread and fear for those other people like Maria who are non-verbal and don’t have that capacity, and what might happen to others like Maria if they aren’t loved and cared for and have somebody speaking out for them."

Mary Kelly Foy MP.

For: Luke Akehurst - North Durham

Luke Akehurst. (Image: Newsquest)

Against: Alan Strickland - Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor

In a letter, Mr Strickland said: "I have carefully read the letters I’ve received from constituents, listened to residents at surgeries, engaged with doctors and hospice workers and studied the Bill itself in detail.

"After a great deal of reflection, I decided to vote against the Bill.

"While I don’t feel the current laws around assisted dying are satisfactory, this was not a vote on the principle of assisted dying as a whole – this was a vote on the details of the particular Bill that was put before us in Parliament."

Read the full letter here: Why I voted against the assisted dying Bill

Alan Strickland.

For: Rishi Sunak - Richmond and Northallerton

In an exclusive column for the Darlington and Stockton Times, Mr Sunak explained he voted for the bill.

He said: "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.

"The worry with legislation such as this is always that it could be abused, used to pressure people into ending their lives; or as a way to remove those who are perceived as a burden to the state or their family.

"But my judgement is that this bill is sufficiently tightly drawn to prevent that."

Read the full piece here.

Rishi Sunak. (Image: PA MEDIA)

Against: Grahame Morris - Easington

Grahame Morris. (Image: Parliament)

For: Jonathan Brash - Hartlepool

Jonathan Brash MP. (Image: LDRS)

Against: Liz Twist - Blaydon and Consett

Liz Twist decided to vote against the bill - and in a letter posted prior to the vote, explained that she believes those living with terminal illness should "be able to make their own choice" but expressed concerns.

She wrote: "Like so many of you, I have experienced losing family members and friends who have faced very difficult and painful deaths, despite having the best support they could have.

"For that reason, I would want others facing terminal illness to be able to make their own choice as they approach the end of their life without fearing that their loved ones will face investigation and potential criminal charges.

"For that reason, I can fully understand the call for legislation to resolve the legal position on assisted dying.

"I am concerned that as the legislation is drafted - to apply to those with a diagnosed terminal illness - that it is very likely that there may be future calls to amend the legislation or to seek new legislation, to cover other situations and conditions.

"If we are to take this step of legislating for assisted dying, let us have that wider discussion from the start and take the time to think through how we make legislation which addresses all of the concerns which have been identified and puts thorough safeguards in place."

Liz Twist. (Image: Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament)