Assisted Dying Rejected

DAVID Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West & Leigh, has issued a statement following the recent parliamentary vote on Assisted Dying.
Mr Burton-Sampson said: “Today the Assisted Dying Bill was reintroduced to the House of Commons. As you will no doubt be aware, MP’s voted against taking the Bill forward by a very small majority of 16 votes. I voted for the Bill at 2nd Reading as I did previously in 2024.
“I wanted to explain my reasons for how I voted.
“Although I am personally against assisted dying because of my Christian faith and personal fears over losing loved ones, I supported the Bill progressing forward at this stage as I believe in individual choice. Many constituents, friends and family members would want the option of an assisted death if they found themselves facing the end of their life and a painful death. I must respect and take into consideration those views.
“I have continued to receive a significant amount of communication on this sensitive issue, and I consulted with my residents last year by conducting a survey myself. It was split pretty much 50/50 each way between those for and those against assisted dying.
“I did however have a significant concern about the Bill Sponsor’s plan to use the Parliament Acts. This would allow the Bill to be approved without needing the agreement of the House of Lords, but only if the Bill that is presented to the Lords was unchanged from the Bill previously presented to the Lords last year.
“If this had been the case, then I would have voted against the Bill at 3rd Reading as I wanted to see greater safeguards introduced which had been suggested by the previous sponsors of the former Bill last year.
“I thank all those who have contacted me both for and against this Bill for sharing your views. For now, this debate is over, but I am sure it is one that will be back on the table in the future as it is clear that there is a strong public desire for change.
Picture: David Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West & Leigh.
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