Shropshire Star

How West Midland MPs voted on assisted dying bill

MPs across the West Midlands voted predominantly in favour of plans to legalise assisted dying, with all but one MP in the region casting their vote.

Published
The Houses of Parliament in London
A higher percentage of female MPs backed the assisted dying bill than male MPs (John Walton/PA)

While a majority of the region's Labour MPs voted in favour of Kim Leadbeater's private member's bill, none of the area's Conservative MPs voted in support.

Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for The Wrekin, expressed his concerns about the safeguards that were included in the Miss Leadbeater's bill during a debate in the Commons.

But Warinder Juss, Labour MP for Wolverhampton West, voted in favour, despite his own personal opposition to assisted dying.

Smethwick MP, Gurinder Singh Josan, was one of four Labour MPs in the region to vote against the bill. He said he had learned a great deal during a very carefully considered debate, and accepted the result of the vote.

"The decision we were asked to make is a very serious issue," he said.

"I have heard from lots of people in the last few weeks, in terms of  both their personal and political experiences, and getting this decision right means a lot to a lot of people."

Mr Josan said he was concerned that the safeguards in the bill were not sufficient.

"There is no safeguard against the person choosing this course of action because, for example, they feel it may be in the best interests of their family, even when there is no undue pressure on them to do so," he said.

"In such circumstances, it would be difficult to detect, and safeguard against." 

Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, said he feared the safeguards put in place could be weakened in years to come.

"History informs today's debate, in that previous safeguards put in place for other 'life and death' bills have been watered down over time through legal challenges and judicial activism," he said after the debate.

"Once the principle is established, in practice the safeguards always weaken. This would put the most vulnerable at risk."

Speaking in the Commons,  Mr Pritchard congratulated Miss Leadbeater on the measured and respectful way her bill had been debated.

But he told MPs the bill crossed 'a new and irreversible medical red line for doctors and nurses'.

Telford Labour MP Shaun Davies, who voted in favour of the bill, said there was still a long way to go before it became law, if it did at all.

“Voting for this bill wasn’t an easy decision, and I want to thank the constituents and groups who told me their views and experiences," said Mr Davies.

"Every single piece of feedback was valuable, including from those who wanted me to oppose the bill. While I voted for it at this stage, I will be paying close attention to how the bill is amended, and I will only vote for it to become law if I am satisfied with the safeguards that are in place.

“Ultimately, I had to vote with my own conscience, and my view is that the right to dignity and autonomy is fundamental, in life and in death - and that it’s possible to give people that right while protecting their freedom to live if they choose."

Labour MP for West Bromwich, Sarah Coombes, said for many people the reality of terminal illness meant they faced terrible suffering and the prospect of a drawn-out death.

"In these circumstances I believe that an individual should have the right to decide to end their life on their own terms in a safe, dignified and peaceful way," she said.

Miss Coombes pointed to the case of her West Bromwich constituent whose wife could not get lifesaving surgery, so decided to die at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland. On his return he faced a six-months police investigation on suspicion of assisting a suicide.

Halesowen Labour MP Alex Ballinger voted for the bill after he held a public meeting in the town about the issue last Sunday.

Alex Ballinger MP discussing the bill with residents in Halesowen
Alex Ballinger MP discussing the bill with residents in Halesowen

The former Marine thanked constituents for their "generous and thoughtful contributions" and sharing their personal stories. 

He said: "We must guard against the risk that anybody should feel they have a "duty to die".

Alex Ballinger's letter to constituents
Alex Ballinger's letter to constituents
Alex Ballinger's second part of the letter
Alex Ballinger's second part of the letter

The only MP in the region not to vote was Conservative MP for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire Mike Woods. Earlier this week he told the Express & Star he feared he might miss the vote because he had to chair a forum for the elderly in his constituency. He said he was unlikely to support the bill.

Lichfield Labour MP Dave Robertson said he broadly supported liberalisation of the law on assisted dying, but said it was important to ensure the right safeguards were in place.

Here's how your MP voted:

MPs who voted for the bill at the second reading stage:

Alex Ballinger (Lab, Halesowen)

Julia Buckley (Lab, Shrewsbury)

Sarah Coombes (Lab, West Bromwich)

Shaun Davies (Lab, Telford)

Sarah Edwards (Lab, Tamworth)

Leigh Ingham (Lab, Stafford)

Warinder Juss (Lab, Wolverhampton West)

Sonia Kumar (Lab, Dudley)

Pat McFadden (Lab, Wolverhampton South East)

Helen Morgan (Lib Dem, North Shropshire)

Dave Robertson (Lab, Lichfield) 

Steve Witherdon (Lab, Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr)

MPs who voted against:

Stuart Anderson (Con, South Shropshire)

Antonia Bance (Lab, Tipton and Wednesbury)

Sureena Brackenridge (Lab, Wolverhampton North East)

Gurinder Josan (Lab, Smethwick) 

Wendy Morton (Con, Aldridge-Brownhills)

Mark Pritchard (Con, The Wrekin)

Bradley Thomas (Con, Bromsgrove)

Valerie Vaz (Lab, Walsall and Bloxwich)

Sir Gavin Williamson (Con,  Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge)

MPs who didn't vote:

Mike Wood (Con, Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)