Local MPs Vote in Favour of Assisted Dying

Published on: 24 Jun, 2025
Updated on: 27 Jun, 2025

By Martin Giles

Three local MPs voted in favour of the controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill , commonly referred to as the assisted Dying Bill on Friday (June 20).

Updated with Sir Jeremy Hunt’s comment below…

In a free vote, Zoe Franklin (Lib Dem, Guildford), Will Forster (Lib Dem, Woking) and Sir Jeremy Hunt (Con, Godalming & Ash), joined the 314 MPs who voted in favour. The third reading of the bill was passed by a majority of 23.

The Bill will now pass to the House of Lords.

The three MPs were asked by The Dragon to summarise their reasons for supporting the Bill.

Zöe Franklin MP

Zöe Franklin said: “This is a significant change to the law and I’ve spent considerable time reviewing the Bill and amendments, particularly the safeguards within it to protect vulnerable individuals, before deciding how to vote.

“Having done so, I voted in favour of what I believe to be a safe, compassionate, and carefully regulated voluntary assisted dying law.

“I’m grateful to everyone who has written to me and shared their questions, concerns, and personal stories; each has given me food for thought as I’ve considered how to vote.”

Will Forster MP

Will Forster said: “As Woking’s Member of Parliament, I voted for the Bill.

“I have heard from over a thousand constituents about this Bill. I want to thank everyone who has told me their heartfelt feelings and experiences about assisted dying.

“I decided to vote in favour of having meet families from Woking whose relatives wanted to die with dignity, but were not allowed to. I hope a change in the law ensures those awful experiences I heard about stops this happening in the future.

“The debate about this bill has exposed to everyone that palliative care is not properly funded in this country. That’s why I backed an amendment from my colleague Munira Wilson for a comprehensive assessment of the availability, quality and distribution of palliative and end of life. This review will take place one year after the bill is passed. I will keep campaigning for funding for hospices.”

Sir Jeremy Hunt MP

Sir Jeremy Hunt said: “It is a decision I agonised over for weeks… In the past I have always voted against it because I worried it might be a pressure on older people worried about being a burden on their family. But the legislation passed by the Commons on Friday would not give that right to the vast majority of people: it is tightly defined to those with a terminal diagnosis of six months or less.

It excludes those whose sole condition is mental illness or disability. It also has to be reviewed by two doctors and an independent panel to make sure there is no coercion. I fully accept there are risks of unintended consequences as there are with any new legislation.

In the end I voted in favour because I thought that if I was faced with that situation myself I would want the autonomy and control to decide for myself – and could not therefore vote in good conscience for others not to be able to do the same.