Ahead of tomorrow’s vote on assisted dying. I wanted to outline how I will be voting and the reason behind this decision.

First of all, I appreciate all the local residents who have taken time to share their views with me on this issue, and I have engaged with organisations on both sides of this debate and listened to the experiences and concerns of everyone ahead of the vote tomorrow.

This issue involves deeply personal and profound questions, and my decision to support a change in the law was not taken lightly. I understand the genuine concerns of those who fear for the vulnerable in our society and feel it is our duty to balance choice with safeguarding.

However, I also strongly believe that every individual deserves autonomy in how they approach the end of their life, especially those facing terminal illness. I support changing the law to allow terminally ill adults, with appropriate safeguards in place, to request and receive medically supervised assistance to end their own lives.

It is crucial to emphasise that assisted dying should not be seen as an alternative to high-quality palliative and end-of-life care. Dignity in dying is paramount, and everyone nearing the end of life should be assured they will receive the best possible care.

When the Assisted Dying Bill was last debated in the House of Commons in 2015, I supported the Bill. It was a difficult but principled choice. Though the Bill did not pass, I continue to believe in the importance of respecting individual autonomy at the end of life and have consistently advocated for safeguards that protect vulnerable individuals while enabling choice for those in extreme suffering.

Therefore, tomorrow when Kim Leadbeater MP’s Bill on choice at the end of life is scheduled for its Second Reading, I will be attending and supporting the Bill.