MPs in England and Wales have voted against a bill to legalise assisted dying, with 286 votes against and 27,0 in favour. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, introduced by Labour MP Lauren Edwards, would have allowed adults with fewer than six months to live to apply for help to end their lives, subject to safeguards. The vote marks the end of the latest attempt to change the law, with no further progress expected in the current parliamentary session.

The decision comes after a heated debate in the House of Commons, where both sides made emotional speeches. The bill, which had previously stalled in the House of Lords, was defeated by a margin of 16 votes. Critics argued the bill lacked sufficient safeguards to protect vulnerable people from coercion, while supporters claimed improving palliative care should be the priority. The vote has sparked anger among supporters, who argue that the law is too cruel and unjust.

Labour MPs Ashley Dalton, Dame Meg Hillier and Jess Asato, who voted against the bill, stated that the measure was 'unsafe and unworkable' and that the focus should be on improving the NHS and social care before considering assisted dying. They argued that none of the relevant medical colleges or professional groups would attest to the safety or workability of the bill. 'This is not a moment for celebration,' they said, 'we understand the deep concerns of so many people across the country who have campaigned hard for a change in the law.'

Supporters of the bill, including Dignity in Dying chief executive Sarah Wootton, argue that thousands of terminally ill people will continue to suffer against their wishes in their final days. Wootton said she still believes 'law change is inevitable.' Care Not Killing chief executive Gordon Macdonald described the vote as 'decisive' and called for MPs to focus on repairing palliative care in the UK and securing necessary funding.

The bill, which was previously supported by MPs in the last parliamentary session, ran out of time to progress through all necessary stages in Parliament after peers in the House of Lords tabled over 1,200 amendments. Edwards brought forward the proposals again in a bid to ensure peers could 'finish their job,' but this will no longer take place. Some MPs, including Janet Daby, voted against the bill despite previously supporting it, citing personal concerns about the decision.

The debate also included personal testimonies from MPs, including Claire Hazelgrove, who spoke about her mother's decision to end her life while suffering from a rare blood cancer. Hazelgrove argued that 'not all pain can be palliated' and that the current system is 'harmful.' Conservative MP Martin Vickers warned that legalising assisted dying would 'make us poorer as a society' and change the 'relationship between doctor and patient.'

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who did not vote on the bill, stated that the debate on assisted dying should be paused until social care was improved. He reiterated concerns about the neglect of social care, which he said has been ignored for far too long.