Ealing MPs divided on vote over assisted dying

MPs in Ealing will be voting today (29 November 2024) on a proposed law to make it legal for assisted dying in England and Wales.

Already two of the three Labour MPs in the borough have announced their voting intentions with Ealing Central and Acton MP Dr Rupa Huq saying she is against it and Ealing Southall MP Deirdre Costigan saying she will vote for it. Ealing North MP James Murray has yet to reveal his voting intentions.

Under the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill proposed by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, those over the age of 18 in England and Wales who have six months or less to live, full mental capacity and the consent of two medical professionals would given the right to end their lives.

Ealing Central and Acton MP, Dr Rupa Huq said she would be voting against it. In a posting on X, the Labour MP said: “Though well-intentioned, I have significant concerns about the #AssistedDying bill before Parliament: insufficient safeguards plus an NHS and judicial system under strain. Having been informed by medical & legal opinion and weighty correspondence I will be voting against on Friday.”

Dr Huq revealed that as of 6pm on Thursday (28 November 2024), of correspondence received 155 said they were for it and 162 were against.

In a two page letter to her constituents, Ms Costigan said she will be voting for the bill and said: “Choice, agency and control are crucial to dignity at the end of life. Subject to the safeguards laid out in the Bill, I want those who are suffering the pain and emotional turmoil of a terminal illness to have the freedom to choose how and when their lives will end. This will be a choice available to people, not one forced upon them.

“I do understand that not everyone in Ealing Southall will agree with me in this decision and some may well criticise me for it. However, I was elected to change our country and to take difficult decisions, not to run away from them. I hope that whatever your views you will acknowledge that I have examined the Bill in detail and considered all of the arguments before coming to a decision.”

Are you an Ealing resident with a story to share? Or spotted something we should know about?
Get in touch with us by emailing: news@ealing.news or contact us on X @_EalingNews

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE TO THE EALING.NEWS NEWSLETTER

GET OUR GREAT NEWS, FEATURES, REVIEWS AND MORE DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX

SUPPORT JOURNALISM IN EALING

LATEST EALING.NEWS UPDATES

MORE FROM EALING.NEWS