MPs have just voted by 286 to 270 to defeat the Edwards assisted suicide Bill. This means assisted suicide will be kept out of England and Wales.
If this Bill had passed and gone on to become law, it would have ushered in an irrevocable change that would have put the vulnerable at risk and seen the ending of thousands of lives through assisted suicide.
After a two-year-long national debate, the country has decided to reject assisted suicide, settling the issue for a generation.
REMARKABLE REVERSAL OF FORTUNES
This is a remarkable reversal of fortunes for the assisted suicide lobby.
The Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill was introduced into the most socially and politically progressive House of Commons in British history.
Before Second Reading, it was widely thought that it would move through Parliament with very strong majorities and easily become law.
At Second Reading, in November 2024, it was voted through with a majority of 55. This dropped to a majority of 23 at Third Reading in June 2025.
The Bill then moved on to the House of Lords, where it ran out of time before it could become law.
The Bill was then reintroduced in substantially the same form by Lauren Edwards MP in the House of Commons, where it has today been defeated at Second Reading.
Reflecting on the campaign that has run across the UK over the last two years against these major attempts to introduce assisted suicide, a prominent pollster has recognised the campaign that has involved an amazing coalition of people from all walks of life around the UK as one of the “most successful 21st Century UK social issue campaigns”.
THANK YOU
Today’s victory would not have happened without you.
Thank you for your unwavering support during this campaign.
Thank you to those who have been in contact with their MP. Thank you for sharing actions with your friends and family. Thank you for meeting with your MP. This Bill could not have been defeated without your efforts.
Thank you to our supporters who have given so generously to enable us to have the resources in place to run the Support Not Suicide campaign, which has become the biggest campaign we have ever run, and to work together with a large number of people to defeat this Bill.
Today’s incredible victory is one of the biggest pro-life victories in UK history.
This is a moment of real significance in UK history, and you have been part of it.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
But as this debate ends, the real fight has only just begun.
It is vital that MPs now unite to give full attention to fixing the fundamental issues with health and end-of-life care provision, focusing on the goal of delivering universal access to high-quality palliative care, ensuring true dignity and care for all at the end of life.
In this long battle for life, it may seem at times that we are outnumbered, but when it comes to people who are committed to defending life at all stages, you have shown that we can make a difference.
This is a historic victory for the most vulnerable, who deserve our unwavering protection and the highest standard of care, not a pathway to assisted suicide.
Thank you again for all your help in achieving this victory – and please do take a moment to celebrate tonight.
