How South Cumbria MPs voted on Assisted Dying Bill

MP for Barrow and Furness, Michelle Scrogham, voted against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at its second reading in Parliament on November 29.

MPs voted 330 to 275, majority 55, to approve Kim Leadbeater’s private members bill that would allow terminally ill adults with a life expectancy of less than six months to end their lives.

The Bill will now face further scrutiny and votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest.

MP for Barrow and Furness Michelle Scrogham said she is not against reform 'in principle' but listed three reasons why she voted against the proposals.

In a statement the MP said: “I was not convinced that the bill as it was drafted, provided adequate safeguards particularly against coercion.

“I was concerned about the burden this would place on health and care providers which are already under considerable strain.

“I thought that this bill only looks at one choice for end of life – and we also need to consider how we improve all choices, including funding palliative care. I was influenced by the concerns raised by Hospice UK and others on this matter.”

Mrs Scrogham added: “I respect the views of colleagues who have supported the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which has passed second reading today.

“It is important to note that we are at the start of the legislative process and that the Bill will be further scrutinised, with amendments considered, in the coming months before it will become law.

“I will, of course, continue to engage with that process to ensure that the legislation is strengthened. “

Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP sponsoring the private members bill, described it as the most ‘robust’ in the world, with ‘three layers of scrutiny’ in the form of a sign-off by two doctors and a High Court judge.

Proponents argue existing legislation fails to respect patient autonomy and discriminates financially between those who can afford to travel abroad to end their lives within the law and those who cannot.

Leading barristers including former director of public prosecutions Sir Max Hill KC have spoken in favour of the Bill, saying it would offer better safeguards than the current system through a process involving two doctors and a judge.

It would also make coercion an offence with a possible punishment of 14 years in jail.

MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Tim Farron voted against the bill and previously warned the proposals could pose a ‘serious threat’ to vulnerable people in society.

Tim Farron MP (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Farron previously said: “I’ll be voting against because the evidence from all the other countries and states that have legalised this practice strongly suggests that it is impossible to build in effective safeguards to prevent vulnerable people opting for an early death due to coercive control, self coercion or in desperation due to a failure of society to provide adequate palliative care or pain control.”

“All the same, I do strongly empathise with those who propose this bill for reasons of compassion and understand where they are coming from. Nevertheless, I do think this bill is a serious threat to vulnerable people throughout our society and so I will oppose it.”