Essex MPs divided as assisted dying Bill is defeated

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposed legalising assisted dying for terminally ill adults with less than six months to live, was narrowly defeated in the House of Commons by 286 votes to 270.

The Bill would have allowed eligible patients in England and Wales to apply for an assisted death with the approval of two doctors and an expert panel.

MPs were given a free vote on the issue, with the Government remaining neutral.

Essex MPs were divided on the issue.

Southend West and Leigh MP David Burton-Sampson voted in favour of the bill (Image: David Burton-Sampson)

Those who supported the Bill included:

• David Burton-Sampson (Southend West and Leigh)
• Pam Cox (Colchester)
• Chris Vince (Harlow)

North West Essex MP, and leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch voted against (Image: Paul Reid/PA)

Those who voted against were:

• Jen Craft (Thurrock)
• Kemi Badenoch (North West Essex)
• Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar)
• James Cleverly (Braintree)
• Mark Francois (Rayleigh and Wickford)
• Rebecca Harris (Castle Point)
• Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay)
• Neil Hudson (Epping Forest)
• Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex)
• Priti Patel (Witham)
• John Whittingdale (Maldon)
• Marie Goldman (Chelmsford)
• Bayo Alaba (Southend East and Rochford)
• James McMurdock (South Basildon and East Thurrock)

Clacton MP, and leader of the Reform UK Party, Nigel Farage was not recorded as having voted (Image: Press Association)

Nigel Farage, the MP for Clacton, was not recorded as having voted.

The debate lasted more than four hours and included personal and passionate speeches from MPs on both sides of the argument.

Labour MP Lauren Edwards, who reintroduced the Bill, had warned that it could be another decade before the issue returns to Parliament if this attempt failed.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham abstained from voting, stating he did not want to "unduly influence the debate."