POLL: Should assisted dying be legalised in the UK? (Image: PA)
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s Private Member’s Bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales will have its first reading today, marking its formal introduction to Parliament.
The bill is expected to allow terminally ill adults nearing the end of their life to have the option to end it, but there would be strict eligibility requirements.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Assisted dying Bill would not lead to 'slippery slope', MP tells Archbishop
46 Comments
Kim Leadbeater hails 'light at end of tunnel' for assisted dying campaigners
23 Comments
Give terminally-ill the right to choose
5 Comments
Turning point for Reform UK as Nigel Farage reveals shock poll puts them 'ahead of Labour'
1741 Comments
Shock poll reveals Reform overtaking Tories in Wales as it closes in on two main parties
148 Comments
Dame Joan Bakewell says assisted dying episode for BBC radio was vetoed
4 Comments
'My dad went to Dignitas - here's why I want assisted dying to be legalised'
3 Comments
The two new UK laws and 15 bills Labour have already introduced in first 100 days
113 Comments
I get why Esther Rantzen wants Assisted Dying - but there is a better way
27 Comments
Everything Keir Starmer wants you to forget about the past 105 days of Labour
335 Comments
Keir Starmer ‘personally responsible' if pensioners freeze to death, says Robert Jenrick
1 Comments
Labour Commons uproar as Oliver Dowden blasts low-quality MPs and ‘nepo babies'
184 Comments
Assisted dying was a 'blessing' for Brit with terminal lung cancer in Australia
Comments
Robert Jenrick slams Kemi Badenoch for 'disrespect' by shunning head-to-head debate
12 Comments
Please write to your MPs about assisted dying, Dame Esther urges Express readers
69 Comments
MPs to vote on assisted dying bill as date announced
13 Comments
Assisted dying poll shock just weeks before MPs vote
140 Comments
What is assisted dying? The current law and what is happening at Westminster
42 Comments
'My dad took his own life in the most traumatic way - I support assisted dying'
33 Comments
Esther Rantzen pens powerful open letter urging public to back assisted dying law change
3 Comments
Assisted dying Bill would not lead to 'slippery slope', MP tells Archbishop
46 Comments
Kim Leadbeater hails 'light at end of tunnel' for assisted dying campaigners
23 Comments
Give terminally-ill the right to choose
5 Comments
Turning point for Reform UK as Nigel Farage reveals shock poll puts them 'ahead of Labour'
1741 Comments
Shock poll reveals Reform overtaking Tories in Wales as it closes in on two main parties
148 Comments
Dame Joan Bakewell says assisted dying episode for BBC radio was vetoed
4 Comments
'My dad went to Dignitas - here's why I want assisted dying to be legalised'
3 Comments
The two new UK laws and 15 bills Labour have already introduced in first 100 days
113 Comments
I get why Esther Rantzen wants Assisted Dying - but there is a better way
27 Comments
Everything Keir Starmer wants you to forget about the past 105 days of Labour
335 Comments
Keir Starmer ‘personally responsible' if pensioners freeze to death, says Robert Jenrick
1 Comments
Labour Commons uproar as Oliver Dowden blasts low-quality MPs and ‘nepo babies'
184 Comments
Assisted dying was a 'blessing' for Brit with terminal lung cancer in Australia
Comments
Robert Jenrick slams Kemi Badenoch for 'disrespect' by shunning head-to-head debate
12 Comments
Please write to your MPs about assisted dying, Dame Esther urges Express readers
69 Comments
MPs to vote on assisted dying bill as date announced
13 Comments
Assisted dying poll shock just weeks before MPs vote
140 Comments
What is assisted dying? The current law and what is happening at Westminster
42 Comments
'My dad took his own life in the most traumatic way - I support assisted dying'
33 Comments
Esther Rantzen pens powerful open letter urging public to back assisted dying law change
3 Comments
Assisted dying Bill would not lead to 'slippery slope', MP tells Archbishop
46 Comments
Kim Leadbeater hails 'light at end of tunnel' for assisted dying campaigners
23 Comments
Give terminally-ill the right to choose
5 Comments
Turning point for Reform UK as Nigel Farage reveals shock poll puts them 'ahead of Labour'
1741 Comments
Shock poll reveals Reform overtaking Tories in Wales as it closes in on two main parties
148 Comments
Dame Joan Bakewell says assisted dying episode for BBC radio was vetoed
4 Comments
'My dad went to Dignitas - here's why I want assisted dying to be legalised'
3 Comments
Ms Leadbeater said the bill was not about people with disabilities or mental health conditions, and that there would be clear criteria set for access, as well as medical and judicial safeguards.
The bill will be given a second reading in the Commons on November 29, after which MPs are expected to take part in a free vote. If the Bill passes its second reading, it will enter a committee stage followed by further scrutiny in the Commons and the House of Lords before a final vote on whether it should become law.
READ MORE: Write to your MPs about assisted dying, Dame Esther urges Express readers
If you can't see the poll above, click here to vote
Assisted dying in England and Wales is currently a crime with a maximum sentence of 14 years. In 2015 Parliament voted to overwhelmingly reject assisted dying 330 votes to 118.
Ms Leadbeater took on the issue of assisted dying after being drawn first in the Private Member’s Bill ballot last month.
She explained: “I hadn’t had any personal experience of it, in terms of a family member or loved one, but I knew where I stood on it.
“What I didn’t realise was how much it meant to so many people. When I came top of the ballot, I thought ‘this is an opportunity to make a difference’.
“I’m not the sort of person to walk away from a challenging subject. I’ve always had a real sense of justice and injustice and when I see something that’s wrong, I feel a duty to do something about it.
“When you meet the families who have had some horrific experiences…I just feel we have got a moral duty to have the debate and, I think and I hope, also to change the law.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that assisted dying is “dangerous” and warned that legalisation would lead to a “slippery slope” where more people would feel compelled to end their lives.
Get the latest politics news straight to your phone Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Don't miss...
GB News' Eamonn Holmes shares 'last words' in poignant statement about death [LATEST]
Poll shows majority support for assisted dying as date set for MPs' vote [INSIGHT]
Kim Leadbeater hails 'light at end of tunnel' for assisted dying campaigners [REPORT]
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Dame Esther Rantzen has urged Britons to get behind the campaign and write to their MP in support of assisted dying.
In a heartfelt plea in the Daily Express she said: “Once again I am asking for your help. I am writing to my MP… and explaining why I believe they need to vote yes.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Assisted dying Bill would not lead to 'slippery slope', MP tells Archbishop
46 Comments
Kim Leadbeater hails 'light at end of tunnel' for assisted dying campaigners
23 Comments
Give terminally-ill the right to choose
5 Comments
Turning point for Reform UK as Nigel Farage reveals shock poll puts them 'ahead of Labour'
1741 Comments
Shock poll reveals Reform overtaking Tories in Wales as it closes in on two main parties
148 Comments
Dame Joan Bakewell says assisted dying episode for BBC radio was vetoed
4 Comments
'My dad went to Dignitas - here's why I want assisted dying to be legalised'
3 Comments
The two new UK laws and 15 bills Labour have already introduced in first 100 days
113 Comments
I get why Esther Rantzen wants Assisted Dying - but there is a better way
27 Comments
Everything Keir Starmer wants you to forget about the past 105 days of Labour
335 Comments
Keir Starmer ‘personally responsible' if pensioners freeze to death, says Robert Jenrick
1 Comments
Labour Commons uproar as Oliver Dowden blasts low-quality MPs and ‘nepo babies'
184 Comments
Assisted dying was a 'blessing' for Brit with terminal lung cancer in Australia
Comments
Robert Jenrick slams Kemi Badenoch for 'disrespect' by shunning head-to-head debate
12 Comments
Please write to your MPs about assisted dying, Dame Esther urges Express readers
69 Comments
MPs to vote on assisted dying bill as date announced
13 Comments
Assisted dying poll shock just weeks before MPs vote
140 Comments
What is assisted dying? The current law and what is happening at Westminster
42 Comments
'My dad took his own life in the most traumatic way - I support assisted dying'
33 Comments
Esther Rantzen pens powerful open letter urging public to back assisted dying law change
3 Comments
Assisted dying Bill would not lead to 'slippery slope', MP tells Archbishop
46 Comments
Kim Leadbeater hails 'light at end of tunnel' for assisted dying campaigners
23 Comments
Give terminally-ill the right to choose
5 Comments
Turning point for Reform UK as Nigel Farage reveals shock poll puts them 'ahead of Labour'
1741 Comments
Shock poll reveals Reform overtaking Tories in Wales as it closes in on two main parties
148 Comments
Dame Joan Bakewell says assisted dying episode for BBC radio was vetoed
4 Comments
'My dad went to Dignitas - here's why I want assisted dying to be legalised'
3 Comments
The two new UK laws and 15 bills Labour have already introduced in first 100 days
113 Comments
I get why Esther Rantzen wants Assisted Dying - but there is a better way
27 Comments
Everything Keir Starmer wants you to forget about the past 105 days of Labour
335 Comments
Keir Starmer ‘personally responsible' if pensioners freeze to death, says Robert Jenrick
1 Comments
Labour Commons uproar as Oliver Dowden blasts low-quality MPs and ‘nepo babies'
184 Comments
Assisted dying was a 'blessing' for Brit with terminal lung cancer in Australia
Comments
Robert Jenrick slams Kemi Badenoch for 'disrespect' by shunning head-to-head debate
12 Comments
Please write to your MPs about assisted dying, Dame Esther urges Express readers
69 Comments
MPs to vote on assisted dying bill as date announced
13 Comments
Assisted dying poll shock just weeks before MPs vote
140 Comments
What is assisted dying? The current law and what is happening at Westminster
42 Comments
'My dad took his own life in the most traumatic way - I support assisted dying'
33 Comments
Esther Rantzen pens powerful open letter urging public to back assisted dying law change
3 Comments
Assisted dying Bill would not lead to 'slippery slope', MP tells Archbishop
46 Comments
Kim Leadbeater hails 'light at end of tunnel' for assisted dying campaigners
23 Comments
Give terminally-ill the right to choose
5 Comments
Turning point for Reform UK as Nigel Farage reveals shock poll puts them 'ahead of Labour'
1741 Comments
Shock poll reveals Reform overtaking Tories in Wales as it closes in on two main parties
148 Comments
Dame Joan Bakewell says assisted dying episode for BBC radio was vetoed
4 Comments
'My dad went to Dignitas - here's why I want assisted dying to be legalised'
3 Comments
“Please could you write to yours, and explain why a vote to change the current, cruel law is so crucial, and if you have personal stories, include them. Please explain that for some of us, time is running out.”
The Express Give Us Our Last Rights crusade has fought to change the law on assisted dying for over two years.
So what do YOU think? Should assisted dying be legalised in the UK? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comment section below.