Assisted dying is currently illegal in the U.K. and assisting someone to end their life is punishable by up to 14 years in prison in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.an landscape. (Photo by Stéphane Rouillard/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

UK MPs reject bill legalizing assisted dying bill despite previous support – POLITICO

by · POLITICO

LONDON — British MPs threw out a bill legalizing assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales Friday.

In a narrow vote, MPs rejected the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill's second reading by 286 to 270.

The decision was a marked contrast to a near identical bill by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, which received two votes of support from MPs in 2024 and 2025. The legislation failed to become law after running out of time in the unelected House of Lords earlier this year.