Dudley MPs share why they voted for the Assisted Dying Bill

Dudley MP Sonia Kumar, Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles and Halesowen MP Alex Balinger all voted in support of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Second Reading.

MPs in the House of Commons voted 330 to 275 in favour of the Bill in an unwhipped vote on Friday November 29.

All three of the borough’s Labour MPs, who were all elected in July, have welcomed the news that the Bill will now progress through Parliament, paving the way for an historic change in the law that would allow terminally ill adults diagnosed with less than six months to live to choose to end their lives in the UK.

Dudley MP Sonia Kumar, a former NHS physiotherapist, said: “It is my firm belief that, as a compassionate society, we should afford terminally ill individuals the autonomy to decide to end their lives on their own terms, should they be approaching death and wish to alleviate their suffering. This delicate matter tugs at the very fabric of our moral and ethical considerations, and I do not underestimate the gravity of our decisions here.

Dudley MP Sonia Kumar (Image: Sonia Kumar MP)

“As someone who has served the National Health Service with dedication, my perspective is also shaped by my experiences in the front line of patient care. Seeing first-hand the trials and tribulations of our patients in their final days has, in part, motivated my decision to vote for the Bill at this second reading.”

Stourbridge MP Cat Eccles said: “I am pleased that my fellow colleagues have supported this Bill, and it has passed its Second Reading. This is a massive moment for end-of-life care, and many months of intense scrutiny lie ahead for this Bill.

“I know some people are concerned about the implications for palliative care, and the safeguards within this Bill. I will be consulting with colleagues in the Department for Health to ensure that my constituent concerns are raised, and greater funding is provided for palliative care going forward.

“I also want to extend my gratitude for colleagues on all sides of the House, for a respectful and powerful debate where all views were heard and considered. This has not been an easy national conversation, and all views are completely valid.”

Halesowen MP Alex Ballinger said he had tried to take account “every piece of information provided” on the matter and “to balance the valid and reasonable arguments made by both sides of the debate” before deciding to vote for the Bill and he was pleased the Government had chosen to remain neutral on the issue, leaving it as a matter of conscience for individual MPs.

Halesowen MP Alex Ballinger addressing residents at a public meeting (Image: Alex Ballinger MP) He said: “I support a change in the law to allow terminally ill adults to request and receive medically supervised assistance to end their lives. I believe this is a compassionate approach to reduce suffering by terminally ill adults at the end of their lives.

“I recognise the concerns raised by those opposed to the Bill and I respect their valid and heartfelt concerns. The draft Bill contains safeguards. It is vitally important that the proposed safeguards are as robust as possible to mitigate the risks posed by the Bill.”

“I have kept in mind concerns about the impact on healthcare professionals. It is important that no healthcare worker will ever be compelled to participate in the assisted dying process if it conflicts with their personal beliefs.

“Assisted dying must never be a substitute for high-quality palliative or end-of-life care.”

The Bill will now progress to the Committee Stage, followed by report stage and a Third Reading. If it passes all of these, it will do the same through the House of Lords. If it passes through the Lords, and the House of Commons supports any amendments the Bill will then receive Royal Assent and become law.