Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: New Clause 2

What happened: On 13 June 2025, the House of Commons voted on New Clause 2 to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill during its Committee of the Whole House stage. The clause passed by 259 votes to 216, a majority of 43. The vote was held on a free vote, meaning no party imposed a whipping instruction and MPs voted according to their individual conscience.

Why it matters: New Clause 2 forms part of the core legislative architecture for a regulated assisted dying framework in England and Wales, advancing provisions that would allow terminally ill adults to seek assistance to end their lives under defined conditions and safeguards. The passage of this clause keeps the Bill moving forward through its parliamentary stages, meaning the prospect of a legal assisted dying system in England and Wales remains live. The vote affects patients with terminal diagnoses, medical professionals who may be asked to participate, and the broader healthcare system.

The politics: The vote cut across conventional party lines, as is characteristic of conscience votes on ethical questions. Within the Labour Party, 122 MPs voted in favour and 150 against, reflecting a significant internal split. Conservatives divided 68 in favour and only 11 against, making them proportionally the most supportive party represented. Liberal Democrats divided almost evenly, 27 to 34 against. All five voting Democratic Unionist Party MPs supported the clause, while all four voting Green MPs opposed it. Reform UK voted 6 to 1 in favour. The Bill sits within a broader sequence of conscience votes on assisted dying that have defined one of the most contested legislative debates of the 2024-25 Parliament.