Assisted dying could become legal in England and Wales after the bill was backed by MPs in a historic vote.

Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 yes votes compared to 275 noes at its second reading in the House of Commons – a majority of 55.

Politics Live: MPs voting on historic assisted dying legislation

The bill would allow adults who are terminally ill with just six months left to live to request medical assistance to end their lives.

Today’s result means the legislation will now progress to the committee stage for scrutiny, with the Lords also to be given opportunities to express their views on the measure before it potentially becomes law.

MPs were given a free vote – meaning they could side with their conscience and not along party lines, with the government staying neutral on the matter.

The division list showed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the proposal, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

But other cabinet members like Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood voted against the bill, having previously warned about vulnerable people being coerced and of a “slippery slope of death on demand”.

The vote came after a five-hour debate in the chamber, which drew emotional arguments on both sides.

Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell revealed he changed his mind on assisted dying after finding himself with “tears pouring down my face” on hearing the stories of constituents whose loved ones had died “in great pain and great indignity”.

On the other side of the argument, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said assisted dying could result in sick people “feeling like a burden” on society, adding: ” I can imagine myself saying that in particular circumstances.”

She warned: “If this bill passes, we will have the NHS as a fully-funded 100% suicide service but palliative care will only be funded at 30% at best.”

Bill about ‘choice and dignity’

Opening the debate on the topic, Labour backbencher Ms Leadbeater said the bill was about giving dying people “choice, autonomy, and dignity” – saying the current law was “failing” them.

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She has insisted her bill contains “the most robust safeguards” of any assisted dying legislation in the word.

This includes two independent doctors having to approve the decision, followed by a high-court judge, with the person having to administer the drugs themselves.

The legislation also includes a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying or taking the medicine.

Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby after the vote, an emotional Ms Leadbeater said she was “incredibly proud” of the result and parliament must now “take on board everything that’s been discussed in the chamber”, including the state of palliative care and the rights of disabled people.

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Heidi Alexander has been appointed the new transport secretary after Louise Haigh stepped down.

The Swindon South MP had been serving as a justice minister until her promotion today, and worked as Sadiq Khan’s deputy transport mayor between 2018-2021.

Ms Haigh resigned after Sky News revealed she pleaded guilty to an offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013.

In a letter to the prime minister, she described the incident as a “mistake” but said that “whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering on the work of this government”.

Ms Haigh claims she was “mugged on a night out” and believed her phone had been stolen, but discovered “some time later” this was not the case.

She called the incident a “genuine mistake from which I did not make any gain”.

The Tories have said it raises questions about what exactly Sir Keir knew when he appointed her to his shadow cabinet in opposition.

Responding to her resignation letter, the prime minister thanked Ms Haigh for “all you have done to deliver this government’s ambitious transport agenda” and said: “I know you still have a huge contribution to make in the future.”

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A 16-year-old girl has been charged with the murder of a man in King’s Cross.

The teenager, from Brixton, south London, will appear at magistrates’ court later today charged with the murder of Anthony Marks, 51, in August this year.

Mr Marks was assaulted on Cromer Street on Saturday 10 August.

A 17-year-old boy has previously been charged and remanded in custody to face trial next year.

Police are keen to hear from any witnesses who may not have come forward yet, as well as Mr Marks’s next of kin, who still remain unidentified.

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Anyone with information should call the police at 101 or contact the incident room direct on 0208 358 0300.

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