Kim Leadbeater's assisted dying bill was supported by 330 votes to 275, after a five-hour debate in the British Parliament on Friday.

The draft law aims to “allow adults with a life expectancy of six months or less, the right to request and seek assistance to end their own life”, with the approval from two doctors and a High Court judge.

The bill has now entered in a committee stage, where MPs will get a chance to submit evidence and call witnesses, in order to propose amendments.

The proposed law will then return to the House of Commons for further debate in Spring 2025, most likely on 25 April. If they back it again, it will move to the House of Lords for consideration next summer.

Despite the support that the bill has just received, some MPs warned that their backing was conditional on additional safeguards being put in place or parts of the draft law being changed.

“The biggest proposed change to our social fabric in a generation”

The UK Evangelical Alliance (EAUK) responds to result of Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill vote in an official statement by its CEO, Gavin Calver.

“I am deeply disappointed parliament has voted to progress this bill to legalise assisted suicide. This is the biggest proposed change to our social fabric in a generation”, stresses Calver.

According to the EAUK CEO, “this bill will normalise suicide in our society as a positive option and places the most vulnerable at risk of abuse and coercion”.

He recalls they “have stood with other faith and disability groups, medics, lawyers, and members of the public, highlighting the significant shortcomings of this bill”, and says they “will continue to work to ensure that the bill does not become law”.

Considering the “concerns about safeguards and the workability of the law” of many who voted in favour, the EAUK “will continue to engage and hold MPs to account if their hopes for the bill’s improvement are not met”.

“When the bill returns for further votes next year, we will campaign against it and advocate for the best protections for the most vulnerable in our society” concludes Calver.

Other Christian reactions

Danny Webster, head of the EAUK advocacy team, said he was “honestly really sad at this vote”, but “motivated to continue work so this bill does not pass into law”.

Am honestly really sad at this vote, but motivated to continue work so this bill does not pass into law. https://t.co/gY5lNWImtR

— Danny Webster (@danny_webster) November 29, 2024

He also encourage Christians to “join us in this work, demonstrating to politicians the vital need to safeguard the dignity of all people at all points in life”.

Christian apologist David Robertson, warned that “there will be enormous pressure on the elderly to 'do the right thing' and save the NHS or save their inheritance for the kids”.

For Ross Hendry, CEO of Christian Action Research and Education (CARE), “there are no safeguards in this Bill that will rule out coercion of vulnerable people, and people ending their lives because they feel like a burden or lack proper support”.

“We need a national conversation on how we ensure excellent, universally accessible end-of-life and palliative care, and stronger support for marginalised groups”, he added.

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