MPs in Sheffield were divided during a historic vote today with four of the six in favour of controversial legislation to allow people with terminal diagnoses to end their lives.
The Assisted Dying Bill was introduced to the House of Commons as a private members bill by Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP for Spen Valley.
It proposes that anyone over the age of 18, who has been registered with a GP for at least a year, and has the mental capacity, is terminally ill and is expected to die within six months can make the decision to end their life.
The second reading of the bill passed with 330 MPs in favour of the bill and 275 against.
Earlier today in the House of Commons, Marie Tidball the MP for Penistone and Stockbridge voted in favour of the bill and said: “I focused on enabling disabled people to live better more fulfilling lives.”
She spoke about her personal experience of having major surgery when she was young and said: “That moment also gave me a glimpse of how I would want to live my death, just as I have lived my life. Empowered by choices available to me.
“Living that death with dignity and respect and having the comfort of knowing that I might have control over that very difficult time.”
Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts also voted in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill, saying: “I have seen and heard far too many stories of the agony they suffer and the indignity they have to go through otherwise.
“I have seen and heard of those who experience immense pain in their final months. They should have the right in those instances to end their life on their own terms.”
Olivia Blake, the MP for Sheffield Hallam and Louise Haigh, the MP for Sheffield Heeley also voted in favour.
However, Abtisam Mohamed, the MP for Sheffield Central, said she would vote against the bill at future readings.
She said: “I am concerned that some of the most vulnerable people in society, low-income or disabled people would feel like a burden on others, and it would encourage them to give up.”
Mohamed’s constituent spoke to Sheffield Wire today to voice her opposition to her MPs decision.
This opposes the view of the previous MP for Sheffield Central, Paul Blomfield, as he was strongly in support of assisted dying. He is now the chair for the campaign group Dignity in Dying.
Gill Furniss, the MP for Brightside and Hillsborough, also voted against the bill today.
She said: “I must vote with my conscience and hope that all constituents will respect my decision.”
The bill follows a growing trend of nations moving in favour of forms of legislation for assisted dying.
In the Isle of Man, a bill introduced by Dr Alex Allinson which proposes allowing the choice for terminally ill residents passed its third reading this July. If it passes all remaining stages it could mean the option for assisted dying would be available from 2027.
The patient will have to sign two separate witnessed declarations and two independent doctors will also have to approve of the decision. The application will then pass to a high court judge who will decide if the patient can end their life or not.
If it is approved for the individual, they will then have to self-administer the medication to end their life.
The bill for England and Wales will now go to the committee stage where MPs can table amendments and it will come under further scrutiny from MPs.
MPs will vote once more on the bill and any amendments, and after a third reading it will pass through to the House of Lords.
