UPDATE — 11 September 2026: MPs have rejected the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at second reading by 286 votes to 270. The legislation will therefore make no further progress during the current parliamentary session.
MPs will vote today on a renewed attempt to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales, after an earlier version of the legislation cleared the House of Commons but failed to complete its passage through the House of Lords.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, introduced by Labour MP Lauren Edwards, is scheduled for its second reading in the Commons on Friday 11 September.
The Government is officially neutral on the principle of assisted dying and MPs are being allowed to vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines.
What would the bill do?
The legislation would allow adults aged 18 or over who have mental capacity, are terminally ill and are reasonably expected to die within six months to request medical assistance to end their own life.
Applicants would have to be resident and registered with a GP in England or Wales and demonstrate a clear, settled and informed wish to end their life voluntarily and without coercion or pressure.
Two doctors would independently assess the request, with their assessments taking place at least seven days apart.
If both doctors concluded that the eligibility requirements had been met, the case would be referred to a multidisciplinary Assisted Dying Review Panel.
After approval and a further reflection period, an eligible person could make a second declaration. The bill provides for an approved substance to be prescribed, but the individual would have to administer it themselves.
Previous bill passed Commons but fell in Lords
The legislation is a renewed version of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill considered during the previous parliamentary session.
That bill was approved by the House of Commons on 20 June 2025 by 314 votes to 291 before being sent to the House of Lords.
However, it failed to complete all of its legislative stages in the Lords before the end of the 2024-26 parliamentary session and consequently fell without becoming law.
Edwards, who was drawn second in the Private Members' Bill ballot for the new session, subsequently introduced the new bill on 17 June 2026.
Parliament Act row adds constitutional dimension
The renewed attempt has also triggered a debate over whether the Parliament Acts could ultimately be used if the Commons again approves the legislation but the House of Lords prevents it becoming law.
The Parliament Acts can, in certain circumstances, allow the elected House of Commons to overcome opposition to a public bill in the Lords.
The House of Commons Library says Edwards has stated that she wants the new bill to pass without relying on the Parliament Acts, but has not ruled out their use.
Some MPs opposing the legislation have warned that attempting to force such a contentious social reform through using the Parliament Acts would carry significant constitutional risks. Supporters argue that the mechanism exists precisely to ensure that the unelected Lords cannot permanently frustrate the will of the elected Commons.
Burnham to abstain
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he will not vote on the legislation today.
Burnham has previously argued that the debate over assisted dying should take account of the condition of palliative and adult social care services, and has said he does not want his position as Prime Minister to unduly influence what is intended to be a conscience vote.
The Government itself remains neutral.
Government guidance says ministers have a responsibility to assess whether legislation approved by Parliament would be workable, effective and enforceable, and the Department of Health and Social Care and Ministry of Justice have produced assessments of the potential impact of the bill without taking a position on the principle of assisted dying.
Supporters and opponents remain divided
Supporters argue that terminally ill adults facing intolerable suffering should be allowed greater control over the manner and timing of their deaths, subject to strict safeguards.
Opponents have raised concerns about coercion, the protection of vulnerable people, the adequacy of palliative care and whether safeguards could prevent individuals feeling pressure to end their lives.
The issue remains one of the most significant conscience votes facing MPs.
If the bill receives its second reading today, it will proceed to detailed scrutiny in committee before returning to the Commons for further stages. It would then have to pass through the House of Lords before it could become law, unless the exceptional Parliament Act route ultimately becomes relevant.