TWO of Barnsley’s three MPs have voted to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales after the final debate on the change of law.
The assisted dying bill, which was formally introduced in the House of Lords for further scrutiny on Monday, gives terminally ill adults in England and Wales with six months to live the legal right to end their lives with medical support.
It has been the subject of scrutiny across the House of Commons and after months of deliberation the bill was backed by 314 votes to 291 - a majority of 23.
MPs were given a free vote on the issue, meaning parties did not instruct them what to choose.
The third reading of the bill was the last opportunity for MPs to approve or reject it.
The majority in favour has more than halved since MPs first backed proposals to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.
In November they supported it by 330 to 275, a majority of 55.
Barnsley North MP Dan Jarvis voted in favour of the bill - but says he respects those who were against it.
He told the Chronicle: “I thought long and hard about assisted dying, listened carefully to arguments on both sides of the debate, and spoke at length with colleagues holding different perspectives.
“After very careful consideration and taking into account the points raised by all of the many constituents who contacted me, I voted in favour of the bill.
“I respect those who took an opposing view, and I believe that all MPs followed their conscience and acted how they thought best - this was the route that my conscience took me.
“My decision was underpinned by the belief that the law should not stand in the way of anybody facing a terminal illness (with fewer than six months left to live) deciding how and when their lives end with dignity.
“I just didn’t think it was for me to stop one of my constituents who wanted to make this choice.”
He added that he hopes the bill will restore dignity to those at the end of their life.
Dan said: “Frankly, some British people already have the option of an assisted death - if they have the means to travel abroad to Switzerland and legally end their lives.
“This process costs thousands of pounds and is simply not an option for most of my constituents.
“I believe that the law should not stand in the way of anybody who is suffering and who has less than six months left to live - irrespective of their wealth - from choosing to end their suffering with dignity, provided that very robust safeguards are in place to protect vulnerable people from coercion.
“The bill ensures that there are those safeguards in place: two independent doctors, a consultant psychiatrist, a senior lawyer, and a social worker will all assess each patient’s independence of decision and capacity.
“I hope that this bill will restore dignity to people at the end of their lives and provide some comfort at the most difficult of times.”
Dr Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, told the Chronicle that the decision to vote in favour of the bill is the hardest she has ever had to make.
She said: “I am proud to have voted to give terminally ill adults choice, dignity and compassion at the end of life.
“This is a landmark vote, sending a clear message that Parliament stands with the public, and that the broken status quo must change.
“My decision to support the bill on second reading was one of the hardest I have ever had to make.
“It required me to go into the very depths of myself and draw on my experience as a child when I was recovering from surgery in Sheffield Children’s Hospital, as well as the hundreds of poignant experiences shared with me by my constituents.
“As a member of the Bill Committee, committee stage was one of the most extraordinary, cross-party, deliberative processes I have ever experienced in 20 years of analysing legislation.
“I worked hard to strengthen the voices of disabled people and their protections under the bill, and ensuring disabled people are treated with the dignity and respect we deserve.
“My original support for the bill was conditional on changes being made in committee stage, and I’m pleased that safeguards have been strengthened further, making it the strongest bill of its kind in the world.
“This is a watershed moment for choice and dignity for terminally ill adults in our country, and I am proud to have voted in favour of this bill.”
Barnsley South MP Stephanie Peacock was the only one of the three local MPs to vote against it.
She said: I had too many reservations about this particular bill to vote for it with confidence.
“I know that this is an important issue, and I am grateful to everyone who took the time to get in touch to share their views.”
