“Right-to-die bill” was rejected by 330 votes to 118, in the first vote on the assited dying in almost 20 years.

Anglican leader Justin Welby and the UK Evangelical Alliance “strongly oppose” euthanasia. Former Prime minister Gordon Brown argues palliative is the solution.

Ethics expert Luc Olekhnovitch is grateful that France’s new end of life law excludes euthanasia, but hopes palliative care will continue to be developed.

The bill, which complements the previous law of 2005 about the end of life, is perceived as a compromise between pro-life and pro-euthanasia.

Deputies from the left sought to push the “end of life” draft bill further, but the three amendments were rejected by 89 to 70. Next week sees the definitive vote on the new bill.