Statement on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Today, the House of Commons had our final day of debate on, and voted on, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

I would firstly like to pay tribute to the way this sensitive debate has been conducted, and thank the hundreds of people across Milton Keynes North who have taken the time to share their heartfelt views and personal stories with me.

Throughout this process, I have been deeply sensitive to the fact that this is an emotional debate. That’s why I was so grateful to people who came to my Town Hall events in Olney and Newport Pagnell before the Bill’s Second Reading in November to share their views and experiences.

I know that, despite disagreements, both sides of this debate are united in a sincere desire to ensure people are treated with respect, dignity and care.

In recent weeks and months, I have been carefully engaging with my parliamentary colleagues and external experts to seek reassurances that this Bill and its safeguards are as strong as possible.

I welcomed that, as a result of the many submissions and feedback received by the Bill Committee, further changes were made to enhance the Bill’s safeguards- including the creation of a new expert panel. The addition of a psychiatrist to assess mental capacity, a social worker to identify coercion, and a senior lawyer, speaks to the key concerns raised by witnesses and during Committee Stage.

Other important changes include ensuring that no individual is obliged to participate in assisted dying, introducing a ban on advertising assisted dying services, and preventing clinicians from raising the topic with anyone under 18. As a result, I did vote in favour of the Bill. This was not a decision I took lightly, but it remains my personal belief that there should be a safe and dignified option available for terminally ill people- whose death is reasonably expected within six months. I will continue to monitor the progress of the Bill now that it has entered the House of Lords, just as I remain committed to improving access to high-quality palliative care and will continue to push for greater funding and support for Willen Hospice.

While discussions on this topic have often been challenging, debates such as these reflect the very best of our democratic processes and I remain committed to engaging as openly and honestly with constituents on this and other important issues in the future.