MPs will vote on legalising in a crunch Commons vote today following a possible marathon five-hour debate.
This will be the first such d – with a vote expected at the end on whether it should pass through to be scrutinised by a committee.
MPs will be given a free vote on the issue, allowing them to decide according to their conscience rather than in line with party policy.
Laws throughout the UK currently prevent people from asking for medical help to die.
But Dame Esther Rantzen has urged MPs to attend the assisted dying debate and vote this afternoon, saying it is unlikely the issue will come before Parliament again in the next decade.
The broadcaster, who is terminally ill, has backed the Express’s crusade which calls for a change in the law.
What the assisted dying vote today means for the UK – your questions answered
Express Politics answers all your questions on assisted dying and what the bill will mean for the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet is split on the issue
About 100 MPs so far have signalled their intention to support the Bill, with about 80 saying they will oppose it.
Of the 650 MPs in the Commons, most have yet to say publicly how they will vote, including Prime Minister Sir , who supported a change in the law in 2015.
Asked on Thursday whether his view on the matter had changed since then, Sir Keir again declined to say, instead repeating that he does not want to “put pressure” on MPs who will be taking part in a free vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is among those who have said they remain undecided as they study the Bill’s contents.
The Cabinet is split on the issue, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood intending to vote no, while Energy Secretary and former Labour leader Ed Miliband is supporting the Bill alongside Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
Former prime minister has not said which way he will vote, while Lord Cameron, who would have a vote if the Bill progressed to the Lords, is the only living former PM to publicly back the legislation.
MP behind the Bill says Parliament has an opportunity to ‘correct injustice’ today
Parliament has a chance to “correct injustice and reduce human suffering” when it debates assisted dying, the MP behind the Bill said – but opposition campaigners have warned of “inevitable abuse, pressure, coercion and mistakes”.
Five hours have been set aside for MPs to air their views on Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, and a vote must be called before 2.30pm otherwise the Bill is highly unlikely to make any further progress through Parliament.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater (centre) with Dignity in Dying campaigners as they gather in Parliament Squ (Image: PA)
How will assisted dying work if it is legalised?
Four MPs’ failed to derail today’s proceeding when they tabled an amendment claiming there was not enough time for sufficient debate and scrutiny of Kim Leadbeater’s Private Members’ Bill.
Dame Esther Rantzen said any new legislation will “never apply to me as I have stage four lung cancer, and my time is running out”.
She described herself as “fortunate” to have the choice of an assisted death at Dignitas but repeated her views that to have to go alone for fear of her family being prosecuted is unfair.
The campaigner said: “My family cannot accompany me there and support me, otherwise they will be investigated by the police for possibly assisting suicide which could mean a prison sentence of 14 years under the current law.
“Is that really the way our legal system should treat patients and their families at the most distressing time in our lives?”
Under the proposals, a High Court judge would have to rule each time a person makes a request to end their life. A patient would then have to wait 14 days before acting.
A doctor would prepare the substance being used to end the patient’s life, but the person would take it themselves. The bill does not say which drug would be used.
It would be illegal to coerce someone into declaring they want to end their life, with a possible 14-year prison sentence.
Good morning on what could be a landmark day in Parliament
Good morning on what is a monumental day in Parliament!
MPs will today vote on whether to legalise assisted dying.
This is an issue the Express has been campaiging on for several years.
Assisted suicide is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
But MPs’ votes today could help change that.
The Express team will be bringing you the latest from Westminster throughout the day.