Assisted dying campaigners let out a roar of celebration (Image: Getty)
A roar of celebration was swiftly followed by hugs and tears as campaigners realised they had won the first stage of their battle to change the law.
Many had spent hours in the bitter cold outside the Houses of Parliament as they waited for MPs to reach a decision. But the chill was forgotten when news broke that the Commons had voted to back assisted dying.
The issue was deeply personal for many of those gathered at Westminster. They included Caroline McKiddi, 55, from Kirriemuir near Dundee, who carried a small poster asking: “Why could my dog have a good death … but not my mum?”
When her mother was dying from cancer, Caroline arranged a family holiday to ensure her final memories were happy ones.
“It was perfect,” she said. “The grandchildren were there and we had laughter and games.
“That is when my mother’s life should have ended”.
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The assisted dying bill passed with a majority of 55 votes (Image: Getty)
But it wasn’t to be. Once the trip was over, her mother endured “two weeks of hell”. Despite the “wonderful” care of her doctor and Macmillan nurses, she died in pain.
Caroline was struck by the contrast when her beloved dog fell ill and had to be put down.
“It was very peaceful. I just can’t understand how we can do that for an animal but not for a human being.”
Other supporters of assisted dying had stories of their own. One woman said her husband had planned to travel to Dignitas to die in peace, but suddenly became so ill that the trip was impossible. He also suffered before he died.
Another spoke of her agony watching her twin sister experience a painful death, Sarah Batten, who had travelled from Dorset, spent 20 years working as a physiotherapist in the NHS. She said: “I have seen a great number of patients suffer terribly at the end of their lives, not just from pain but from the sheer indignity of being bed-bound, unable to feed themselves, clean themselves or get out of bed without help.
There were strong arguments on both sides of the debate (Image: Getty)
Supporters of the law, many dressed in pink, were jubilant once MPs delivered their verdict. But they were also aware that the fight is not over and there will be more votes in Parliament to come.
“This is a compassionate step forward,” said Tom Steen of the Dignity in Dying campaign, “but it’s not the end”.
Opponents of the legislation are also determined to keep up the fight, and hope MPs might be persuaded to think again.
A young woman in a wheelchair who gave her name as Rachael spoke about her struggle just to travel into central London, after waiting half an hour for a bus equipped to allow her on board. She argued that politicians should focus on making life better, not ending it.
Aaron Yahaya, 42, described the legislation as “dangerous” and said he feared the consequences of allowing the state to take lives.
“Once you open this Pandora’s box there is no shutting the lid,” he said.
Miriam Green, 22, came to Westminster to campaign against the legislation and said the battle would continue. “A physician offering someone the option of suicide tells that person their life is not worth living,” she said.
Last night’s vote was historic but the debate will continue, both in Parliament and outside.