MEMBERS of Parliament voted in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales on Friday afternoon.

The bill, brought to Parliament by Labour MP for Spen Valley, Kim Leadbeater, passed by a margin of 330 to 275 and will now be subjected to further debate.

South Essex’s MPs voted both in favour and in opposition to the proposed legislative changes:

Mr Richard Holden (Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay) - Against

Mr James McMurdock (Reform MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock) - Against

Mr Mark Francois (Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford) - Against

Dame Rebecca Harris (Conservative MP for Castle Point) - Against

Mr Bayo Alaba (Labour MP for Southend East and Rochford) - Against

Mr David Burton-Sampson (Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh) - For

David Burton-Sampson was the sole south Essex MP to vote in favour of the bill, with Bayo Alaba, Dame Rebecca Harris, Mark Francois, James McMurdock and Richard Holden all voting against its passing.

In a statement posted to Facebook, Mr Burton-Sampson, MP for Southend West and Leigh, said: “I believe in choice. Whilst at this stage in my life I believe assisted dying is not for me, there are many who feel otherwise. They should be able to make this deeply personal choice like we can make about so many other elements of our lives.”

Bayo Alaba MP voted against the billBayo Alaba MP voted against the bill (Image: Bayo Alaba MP) Bayo Alaba, Labour MP for Southend East and Rochford, did not share his colleagues’ views and said that while he accepts the strength of feeling on both sides, he does not “feel that palliative care provision is currently good enough to allow individuals to make such a difficult decision.

He added: “I am also concerned about the undue pressure that assisted dying would place on loved ones and worry that in its current form, it could be open to abuse”.

Kim Leadbeater (centre) is joined by Rebecca Wilcox (daughter of Esther Rantzen (far right)Kim Leadbeater (centre) is joined by Rebecca Wilcox (daughter of Esther Rantzen (far right) (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire) The passing of the legislation at this first stage has been welcomed by assisted dying campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen.

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It will now be subjected to further rounds of scrutiny.