- MPs have voted against legalising assisted dying in England and Wales, rejecting the proposed legislation by 286 votes to 270.
- Terminally ill campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen described the decision as a tragic day, expressing sadness that people in the UK will not have the choices available in other countries.
- The draft bill would have allowed adults with less than six months to live to apply for an assisted death with authorisation from two doctors and a specialist panel.
- Dame Esther, who joined the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, previously stated she is now too physically fragile to travel abroad to end her life.
- Sponsoring Labour MP Lauren Edwards called the vote heartbreaking, while opponents welcomed the result, citing concerns over inadequate safeguards for vulnerable individuals.
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