Politics LIVE: Assisted Dying Bill faces Lords revolt after narrowly passing through Commons - 'The fight goes on!'

WATCH THE MOMENT: Assisted Dying Bill passes in the House of Commons

Top Tory issues scathing verdict after Bill's passage

Tory frontbencher Neil O'Brien said: "On Monday the Commons voted to let you kill a baby the day before birth with no legal consequences.

"On Friday, for a Bill which puts vulnerable adults on a path to an early death."

He jabbed: "'Bookend the week?' More like 'end the weak'."

IN PICTURES: Assisted Dying Bill passes Commons

Pictured above are the moments: MPs returned from the voting lobby, the tellers presenting their votes to the Speaker, the Speaker announcing the result of the vote, and MPs finally leaving the Commons after the vote.

Some MPs appeared visibly emotional as they left the chamber after the Bill cleared the Commons.

Others lined up to shake hands with Kim Leadbeater, the Bill's sponsor, with some like Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips stopping to hug the Spen Valley MP.

Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper vote for Assisted Dying Bill

The Prime Minister, Chancellor and Home Secretary have all voted in favour of the Assisted Dying Bill, as did Rishi Sunak, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp.

Big names voting against the Bill include Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn

The full voting breakdown can be accessed on the UK Parliament website HERE.

MPs and campaigners react to Commons vote - 'A dark day for democracy'

MPs across the country are responding to the outcome of this afternoon's passage of Kim Leadbeater's Bill.

"A dark day for democracy and the most vulnerable in society that this bill fails to protect. Utterly depressing," Conservative Joy Morrissey said.

"Assisted dying bill passed. I voted against. Awful legislation, awful outcome, awful day," said Rupert Lowe.

But campaign group Dignity In Dying, one of the Bill's main backers, said in a statement: "This is a landmark moment for choice, compassion and dignity at the end of life."

Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, meanwhile, has vowed "this is not over".

"Wow! Majority slashed. At the risk of sounding like Jeremy Corbyn, we clearly won the argument there," he said. "With a tiny majority and growing opposition from expert groups, the Lords will now rightly feel that they have the right to disagree.

"To my pleasant surprise, this is not over!"

Assisted Dying Bill narrowly passes through Commons as UK one step closer to radical proposal becoming law

MPs have voted for the Assisted Dying Bill, the law proposed by Kim Leadbeater which would give terminally ill people in England and Wales the right to end their own life.

After more than five hours of debate, the Bill gained MPs' approval and will now be sent to the House of Lords.

Some 1,000 doctors had urged MPs to vote against the legislation, calling it a "real threat" to patients and medics alike.

The Bill was not whipped, and MPs were allowed to use their own conscience to vote.

Last November, it was backed in the Commons by a majority of 55, with 330 recorded "Aye" votes and 275 "Nay" votes.

This time, it received 314 "Aye" votes and 291 "Nay" votes, a majority of 23.

Keir Starmer joins MPs in voting NOW on consequential Assisted Dying Bill - result imminent

MPs are currently voting on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, or Assisted Dying Bill - the law proposed by Kim Leadbeater which would give terminally ill people in England and Wales the right to end their own life.

After some five hours of debate, the Bill could be minutes away from gaining MPs' approval before it is sent to the House of Lords.

The result is expected in just a few minutes' time - and Sir Keir Starmer has entered the chamber.

'I do not want to live in a society where anyone is encouraged in the belief that their lives are not valuable,' ex-Attorney General says

Tory ex-Attorney General Jeremy Wright has pledged he does not want to "live in a society where anyone is encouraged in the belief that their lives are not valuable".

Passing Kim Leadbeater's legislation would "send a signal that society, through Parliament, believes that something that we used to think was unacceptable is now acceptable... In this case, that assisting someone to die is now something of which we approve".

Wright added: "I do not want to live in a society where anyone, including the terminally ill, is encouraged in the belief that their lives are not valuable and valued to their very last moments.

"I fear that this Bill, though not its intent, brings such a society closer and that is why I cannot support it."

Downing Street refuses to confirm whether Keir Starmer will attend assisted dying debate

No10 has failed to say whether Sir Keir Starmer will attend the Assisted Dying Bill debate with just minutes until MPs vote.

Starmer, who voted for the Bill in November, "is working in No10", Downing Street said.

"I'm not going to get ahead of proceedings in the House or speculate on the Prime Minister's movements," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.

'This is assisted KILLING' says Tom Tugendhat in extraordinary Commons intervention

​Former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat has urged MPs to use the terms "assisted killing or assisted suicide" rather than assisted dying.

The top Tory said assisted dying was already provided by hospices, and warned: "When the state takes a life, even with consent, that is a huge shift in the relationship between the individual and the state.

"It is a transformation in the way in which power lies. And we should be fully conscious what it is that is being done. That is why this debate needs, frankly, a bit more honesty.

"Because we have heard the blandishments and the warm words of euphemism of assisted dying. But the truth is, this isn't assisted dying. Assisted dying is what a hospice does already, today, now, helping people, caring for people and supporting them.

"This is assisted killing or assisted suicide, depending on which word you choose. But honesty in language is important.

"If we are not even willing to be willing with ourselves in this place, how on earth can we expect the courts when they have to look at the cases to consider the questions that we have debated?"

DUP chief Gavin Robinson: ALL my MPs will vote against Bill

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said all five of his party's MPs will be voting against the Assisted Dying Bill.

Robinson said the legislation was now in a "worse position today than it was at second reading", adding: "This Bill is not where it should be."

Tory MP shoots down claims Assisted Dying Bill is a 'slippery slope'

Ex-Tory minister Kit Malthouse has shot down claims that the Bill is a "slippery slope".

Malthouse told the Commons: "This Bill brings order where there is confusion, it brings safeguards where there is silence and it replaces secrecy with structure and fear with honesty."

After slapping down the "slippery slope" claims, he argued the Bill was "very tightly drawn" and there was "no constitutional pathway here for expansion by stealth".

More than 2,000 miles from the Commons... David Lammy says Labour scrambling to book charter flights out of Tel Aviv for Britons

British and Israeli authorities are working to provide charter flights out of Tel Aviv, while British nationals in Israel have been told to register their presence with the Foreign Office at once, the Foreign Secretary has said.

David Lammy said the number of flights out of Tel Aviv would be based on levels of demand from British nationals.

"As part of our efforts to support British nationals in the Middle East, the Government is working with the Israeli authorities to provide charter flights from Tel Aviv airport when airspace reopens, based on levels of demand from British nationals," Lammy continued.

"British nationals should register their presence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to be contacted with further guidance on these flights.

"Land routes out of Israel remain open and UK staff are on hand to support British nationals who have crossed the border. This will include providing, transport - subject to demand - to nearby airports for onward commercial flights.

"We continue to push for a diplomatic solution to avoid a deepening conflict."

Iain Duncan Smith: 'This legislation is fundamentally unworkable'

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith told MPs: "I will vote against this today, mostly because I believe this legislation is fundamentally unworkable and will lead to huge problems."

IDS continued: "I simply say to those who have any doubt today, this is the third reading, it is not the second reading, it is not a principled debate.

"That, we had - now we have to decide whether we should send this as an unworkable piece of legislation to another place which is unelected to make decisions for us because we are unable to come to a conclusion.

"We cannot let this go through."

'What could be more unjust than to lose your life to poorly-drafted legislation?' Diane Abbott asks

Diane Abbott said: "I have heard talk today about the injustices of the current situation... What could be more unjust than to lose your life because of poorly drafted legislation?

"We are hearing about panels. The people talking about panels presumably have not had much to do with them. I would not put my life or anyone dear to me's life in the hands of a panel of officials.

"There is so much that is problematic about this Bill," she added.

Diane Abbott issues impassioned plea against assisted suicide - 'It is LITERALLY life and death!'

Diane Abbott has issued an impassioned plea against the "problematic" and "poorly-drafted" Bill.

The veteran Labour MP warned the Bill is "literally a matter of life and death" as she attacked how the committee stage was handled - particularly how it threw out attempt to cap profits on private healthcare providers.

NONE of Kim Leadbeater's warnings are true, James Cleverly says

James Cleverly has rejected Kim Leadbeater's warning that today's vote was a "now or never" moment for the assisted dying debate.

He did not accept that "a vote against this at third reading is a vote to maintain the status quo", he said.

"None of those things are true."

'There'll be a small but permanent question mark in the mind of every patient' if Bill passes, James Cleverly warns

James Cleverly has warned that there will be a "small but permanent question mark in the mind of every patient" if MPs vote to pass the Assisted Dying Bill.

"We were promised the gold standard of a judicially-underpinned set of protections and safeguards," Cleverly said. "Those protections did not make it through committee."

The former Home Secretary added: "We are making an incredibly important, a fundamental change in the relationship between medical professionals and those they serve.

"If we make that change we will introduce... a small but a permanent question mark in the minds of every patient, particularly a patient that is discussing a serious illness or perhaps a terminal diagnosis.

"What is this medical professional expecting of me, what are they thinking, where is their head?" patients will think, according to Cleverly. "Rather than the situation we have at the moment where that patient knows that that medical professional is duty-bound to do no harm, to preserve life, dignity, wherever possible."

James Cleverly kicks off opposition speech

Ex-Home Secretary James Cleverly has begun his argument for the opposition at the Bill's third reading debate.

We'll bring you the top lines from Cleverly's address as soon as they come in...

Kim Leadbeater declares assisted suicide Bill is SAFE

Kim Leadbeater has declared that her Assisted Dying Bill is "safe, effective and workable."

"It is an either-or decision for us today," she said. "Either we vote for the safe, effective, workable reform contained in this Bill or we say the status quo is acceptable."

"Not supporting the Bill today is not a neutral act. It is a vote for the status quo. And it fills me with despair to think MPs could be here in another 10 years' time hearing the same stories," she fumed.

Keir Starmer silent on proscribing Palestine Action vandals

Sir Keir Starmer has releassed a statement following this morning's RAF base raid by pro-Palestine activists.

"The act of vandalism committed at RAF Brize Norton is disgraceful," he said.

"Our Armed Forces represent the very best of Britain and put their lives on the line for us every day. It is our responsibility to support those who defend us."

Unlike Nigel Farage, the Prime Minister has not spoken out on whether the Palestine Action group should be proscribed as a terror group.

Assisted Dying debate begins - fewer than FOUR hours remain until final vote

The third reading debate of Kim Leadbeater's Assisted Dying Bill has begun - with a vote expected at around 2pm.

We'll bring you all the top lines from the crunch debate throughout the day - and you can watch it live at the video stream above, or on our dedicated live-stream channel, GBN2.

Introducing it, Leadbeater said: "I do not underestimate the significance of this day. It is not often we are asked to wrestle with issues of morality, ethics and humanity.

"Benjamin Franklin told us that in this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.

"In this House, we debate the latter incessantly, but here and in the country as a whole, discussing death is something we tend to shy away from, and yet it will come to us all and to all those we love."

Nigel Farage calls to PROSCRIBE Palestine Action as Shadow Defence Secretary demands urgent Commons statement

Nigel Farage has called for Palestine Action, the group behind this morning's unprecedented attack at RAF Brize Norton, to be proscribed as a terrorist group.

"Palestine Action must be proscribed as a terrorist organisation after the attack on RAF planes at Brize Norton," he said.

His words were shortly followed by those of Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge in the Commons, who called for an urgent statement to MPs.

Lindsay Hoyle hinted that a statement could be read after the conclusion of the Assisted Dying Bill's debate and vote.

MPs vote to BAN assisted dying adverts across the UK

MPs have voted 275 to 209 to ban assisted dying advertising across every part of the UK.

It follows a bitter row over the ads ahead of the Bill's first vote back in November, with Sadiq Khan told to apologise for a "serious error of judgement" in allowing assisted suicide campaigners to advertise on the London Underground.

Assisted dying could be added to NHS constitution uncontrolled after MPs vote AGAINST move to protect 'stated purpose'

MPs have voted 269 to 223 against, amendment 12 which would require Parliament to pass a law if there was an attempt to add assisted dying to the "stated purpose" of the NHS.

The amendment had been designed to safeguard the originally intended purpose of the NHS. It has been thrown out.

"This amendment would prevent section 1 of the National Health Service Act 2006, which sets out the purposes of the NHS, from being amended by regulations. Its effect would be to require changes to be made by an Act of Parliament instead," is how the amendment is explained.

'Anorexia loophole' closed by MPs

The Commons has backed an amendment to the Bill which stops people being able to access assisted suicide services by avoiding eating and drinking.

The amendment outlines how someone who is not terminally ill cannot "make" themselves terminally ill by voluntarily stopping eating or drinking. The amendment was accepted without a formal vote.

RECAP: Four Labour MPs turn heel to come out against 'drastically weakened' Bill

On Thursday, Labour MPs Markus Campbell-Savours, Kanishka Narayan, Paul Foster and Jonathan Hinder announced that they would vote down the Assisted Dying Bill, having previously backed it.

In a last-minute letter to the Commons, they said: "The Bill presented to MPs in November has been fundamentally changed.

"This is not the safest Bill in the world. It is weaker than the one first laid in front of MPs, and has been drastically weakened."

MPs vote AGAINST tightening assisted dying 'entry requirements'

MPs have voted 261 to 208 against an amendment to the Bill, clause 16, which would have tightened the "entry requirements" for terminally ill people to seek an assisted death.

WATCH IN FULL: Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy speaks to GB News Breakfast

Mark Francois: Pro-Palestine zealots' attack on RAF Base 'totally reprehensible'

Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois has issued a scathing verdict on this morning's news that pro-Palestine protesters have broken into an RAF base and damaged two military aircraft.

Francois blasted: "After the recent tragic loss of the Air India 787, any attempt to interfere with the engines of a large aircraft, particularly one which might ferry troops and their families, or be involved in vital air-to-air refuelling missions, is totally reprehensible.

"There are also serious questions for the MoD to answer about how 'protesters' - who might even have turned out to be armed terrorists - were able to gain access to what is supposed to be a secure RAF airbase."

Unusual alliances emerge as Assisted Dying Bill nears final debate

With today's unwhipped vote on the Assisted Dying Bill fast approaching, MPs from across the board are forming unusual alliances on either side of the debate.

Already this morning, Labour firebrand Diane Abbott and ex-Reform hardliner Rupert Lowe have both spoken out against it.

Last November, Kim Leadbeater's Bill was backed in the Commons by a majority of 55, with 330 recorded "Aye" votes and 275 "Nay" votes.

In the Labour Cabinet, the vote was split 14-8-1 for-against-abstain, with Sir Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and Yvette Cooper all voting for it.

Against-backers included Angela Rayner, David Lammy and Wes Streeting.

More broadly, big names to have backed the Bill last year included Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt, while opposers included Kemi Badenoch, Ed Davey, Nigel Farage and Jeremy Corbyn.

If the Bill is quashed in the Commons today, it will require 28 MPs to change their votes from Aye to Nay - but there will likely be abstentions and absences today, too.

Robert Jenrick issues damning verdict on Assisted Dying Bill as MPs prepare for historic vote - 'It's riddled with holes!'

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has launched a fierce attack on the Assisted Dying Bill, declaring it "riddled with holes" in an exclusive interview with GB News.

His intervention comes as MPs prepare for a crunch vote today which could see assisted dying become legal in England and Wales.

If passed, assisted dying will become legal in England and Wales, and the NHS will be forced to offer the procedure by 2029.

But Jenrick's warning stands in sharp contrast to the bill's sponsor, MP Kim Leadbeater, who has described her proposed legislation as "the most robust piece of legislation in the world"...

READ THE FULL STORY FROM GB NEWS' POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT KATHERINE FORSTER HERE

MPs to vote on assisted suicide Bill TODAY after months of fierce debate

MPs will vote on Kim Leadbeater's controversial assisted suicide Bill today, bringing an end to months of fierce debate.

The Bill would give people in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live the right to end their own life.

Some 1,000 doctors have urged MPs to vote against the legislation, calling it a "real threat" to patients and medics alike.

Sir Keir Starmer supports the Bill - though it is not whipped - but many oppose it on both sides of the House.

The debate on the Bill is set to begin at 9.30am today - with a vote expected at around 2pm.

IN DEPTH: Reform's 'Doge unit' uncovers 'work-shy' council staff and reveals taxpayers paid for illegal migrants' TV LICENCES

This morning's top story on Reform's "Doge" unit follows a series of damning reveals by Zia Yusuf's efficiency drive.

Last night, Nigel Farage was warned he faces a fightback from council staff over Reform UK's proposals to clamp down on DEI training and cut waste.

Unison, the UK's largest trade union, claimed its membership jumped by 200 per cent in local authorities won by Reform UK at last month's Local Elections.

Its general-secretary Christina McAnea told Sky News: "Membership has surged in areas where Reform did well in the local elections.

"Unions exist to ensure no one can play fast and loose with the law. Any staff working for councils now controlled by Reform, and who aren't already a Unison member, should sign up so they can be protected too."

While just four days ago, Zia Yusuf made the bombshell announcement that Kent County Council is "using taxpayer money to pay for TV licenses for asylum seekers".

"Remember that next time you are asked to pay for yours," Yusuf added, while party chief whip Lee Anderson said: "You couldn't make this up."

Just TWO weeks remain to find a solution to Iran crisis, David Lammy warns

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, following talks with American counterpart Marco Rubio in Washington DC, has revealed that just two weeks remain to find a "diplomatic solution" to the crisis in Iran.

Yesterday, President Donald Trump had threatened Iran with the same two-week ultimatum to reach a diplomatic solution - with his top priority ensuring Tehran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.

And today, Lammy has said he had been in discussions with Rubio and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff about "how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict".

"A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution," he said.

Today, the Foreign Secretary will be in Geneva alongside his French, German and EU counterparts for crunch talks with Iran's Foreign Minister.

"Now is the time to put a stop to the grave scenes in the Middle East and prevent a regional escalation that would benefit no one," he said.

'It's a slap in the face!' TaxPayers' Alliance urges Kent Council to PROVE employees 'are actually working'

William Yarwood, media campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance, told GB News following Zia Yusuf's attack on Kent County Council: "Spending £100 million a year on staff who barely show up, with no proper checks, is a slap in the face for taxpayers.

"Kent Council must prove people are actually working - or stop wasting residents' money on empty offices and unchecked home working."

RECAP: Keir Starmer hit by frontbench resignation as Labour rebels plot to defeat PM over £5bn benefits cut

Late on Thursday evening, Sir Keir Starmer was hit with a frontbench resignation as Labour rebels plot to defeat the Prime Minister over his decision to slash Britain's benefits bill by £5billion.

Vicky Foxcroft, who served as Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, confirmed her resignation in a 535-word letter to the Prime Minister.

Starmer is bracing for the biggest revolt of his premiership over his decision to strip thousands of pounds from 1.2 million disabled Britons despite the UK's benefits spend facing a raw increase of £8billion by 2030.

Foxcroft, who joins ex-Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, former City Minister Tuliq Siddiq and ex-International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds in quitting from roles in Starmer's Government, stressed her resignation came with a "heavy heart"...

READ THE FULL STORY HERE