Assisted dying debate live: MPs reject bill after tense Commons debate as Esther Rantzen laments ‘tragic day’

MPs have rejected the assisted dying bill after a tense vote in the Commons.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill failed to pass, with 286 votes against and 270 in favour.

Labour MP Lauren Edwards had brought forward the bill, which was identical to the previous legislation spearheaded by Kim Leadbeater.

It would have allowed terminally ill people in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to seek an assisted death, subject to approval by doctors and legal professionals.

Ms Leadbeater’s legislation was effectively talked out of time in the Lords in Parliament's last session, despite MPs taking the historic step to pass it in the Commons.

Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, which campaigns for greater patient choice at the end of life, has told the Mirror that the fight must go on.

"I won't pretend this isn't deeply disappointing," she said. "Today’s vote should never have been needed.

"The House of Commons endorsed assisted dying reform last year. Parliament then spent more than 200 hours scrutinising the last bill before a small number of Peers prevented it from completing its journey through the House of Lords.

"Today, MPs had to find the courage to allow that democratic process to continue. They couldn’t.

"My thoughts are especially with dying people and their families, who will feel the weight of this decision most heavily, and all those who have been fighting hard in your constituencies to bring MPs onside.

"But make no mistake: this campaign has brought us to the brink of law change. Closer than was imaginable even five years ago. And we will continue to build momentum until we change the law.

"Law change is coming across the UK. Dying Britons living in the Isle of Man, living in Jersey, will have access to choice from the end of next year."

Andy Burnham must now take “meaningful action” to fix palliative care, the chief executive of Hospice UK has said.

Toby Porter accepted that Friday’s vote against the assisted dying bill would be “deeply disappointing” for those who wanted a change in the law.