Majority of Devon MPs back assisted dying bill

Just three of Devon's 13 MPs voted against the bill

The majority of Devon’s 13 MPs have voted in favour of allowing a bill on assisted dying to progress through parliament.

Three of the county’s Conservative MPs – David Reed (Exmouth and Exeter East), Rebecca Smith (South West Devon) and Geoffrey Cox (Torridge and Tavistock) voted against it.

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride, the Conservative member for Central Devon, voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill progressing.

The remainder of the county’s Westminster politicians – who all belong to either the Liberal Democrats or Labour – voted for the bill’s continued passage.

Members had a free vote, meaning that they did not have to follow a party line.

The final vote, which was proposed by Labour backbench MP Kim Leadbeater as a private members’ bill, was 330 for and 275 against.

Mr Reed, the MP for Exmouth and Exeter East, voted against assisted dying because he did not think the plans were sufficiently robust to protect vulnerable people.

“After much thought and careful consideration, I have concluded that I cannot support the bill,” he said.

“While I deeply sympathise with those facing terminal illness and their families, I do not believe this bill offers a safe or workable solution to such a profoundly sensitive issue.

“The bill lacks robust safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals from both subtle and overt coercion, and it risks creating a perception of a ‘duty to die’ for those who feel they are a burden.”

He added that international examples showed that even the most restrictive laws “tend to expand over time, with eligibility criteria widening and unintended consequences becoming apparent”.

Caroline Voaden, the Liberal Democrat member for South Devon, said supporting the bill was “not a decision I have taken lightly”.

“But after taking all opportunities available to read background information on this subject, listen to my constituents, consult experts on both sides of the debate, and consider moral and practical implications of the issue, I have decided to vote for the bill to legalise assisted dying,” she wrote in a letter posted on social media.

“Fundamentally for me, this bill is about giving people who know they are already dying a choice at the end of their life, and I support this.”

The bill now goes to committee stage, will be scrutinised by the House of Lords, go through a report stage and a final reading in both the Commons and the Lords before it can become law.