Bury MP will 'advocate for amendments' after assisted dying bill vote

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its second reading by 330 votes to 275 after more than four hours of debate on Friday.

Labour's Mr Frith voted against the bill while his borough party colleague Christian Wakeford, who represents Bury South, voted in favour of it after seeing his father suffering with cancer.

Prior to the consideration of the legislation, Mr Frith held a discussion event on assisted dying to allow residents to hear from experts across the divide on this controversial topic.

Around 60 Bury North residents gathered in Ramsbottom Civic Hall on the morning of Saturday, November 23 to hear from speakers on both sides of the debate.

The event at Ramsbottom Civic Hall (Image: Supplied) Mr Frith, who chaired the discussion, was joined by Gary Marsh, director at My Death My Decision and Kevin Yuill, chief executive of Humanists Against Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia.

Speaking after the event, Mr Frith said: “The vote on assisted dying is one of the most significant votes that MPs will face in this parliament.

"This historic moment has the potential not just to change lives, but to take life away.

"Such a decision deserves careful and respectful consideration.

“I have always been committed to ensuring that, in Bury North, we have the widest possible discussion and engagement, hearing views, experiences and expertise from all sides.

"I was really pleased to bring together local people in Bury North with two prominent voices in the assisted dying debate to have a frank, honest and open conversation about the bill.”

Mr Frith was among those who spoke against the bill in Parliament, describing the move as a “moment of no return”.

He said: "This bill asks us to make a profound and irreversible decision to the principles of our health service and end-of-life care.

"With end-of-life care funded too often on a shoestring for many, this bill takes our focus to ending life not improving living as life draws to a close with terminal illness.

"I believe it poses significant risks. Our wider societal cultural norms will be changed forever.

"Those who refuse to acknowledge this prospect now do so with the benefit of things as they are now and my point is that this context, this concept changes immediately today if the bill is passed."

Bury North MP James Frith speaking in the House of Commons during the debate (Image: Supplied) READ NEXT > Talented cricketer died after tragic collision in dark alleyway

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Speaking after the vote, Mr Frith said he was “natural disappointed” but that the debate “showed the best of Parliament".

He said it was "respectful, honest and informed debate on a matter of great significance for our country".

He added: “I was proud to take part in the debate and put forward my own views.

"Views that have been informed by my own instincts, extensive dialogue, expertise in the Commons, research and analysis and the great engagement with you, my constituents.

“I promise to continue the open and respectful dialogue that we have had on this issue.

"And I will work tirelessly to advocate for amendments that strengthen safeguards and address the concerns that I have myself and that I know so many of my constituents share.”

Setting out his position, Mr Wakeford said "many constituents" had contacted him.

Ahead of the vote, he said: "This is a complex and emotive issue and I know there are strongly held ethical and moral views on both sides of the debate.

"As someone who lost their father as a child to terminal cancer, I had to watch as he faded away in pain.

"His suffering and how we found him would not have been his choice, nor would it have been ours.

"This experience has shaped my view to decide that if I was to be in a similar position, I would want a choice as to how I died.

If the law were to change, I believe that assisted dying should not become an alternative to high-quality palliative and end of life care.

"People deserve dignity in dying, and each person nearing the end of their life should feel reassured and safe in the knowledge they will receive the very best care.

"This private members bill is a matter of conscience.

"Fundamentally, while we do not get to choose how we enter this world, as a human we should be able to choose when is the right time to leave."