Nine of Northern Ireland’s 11 sitting MPs voted against legalising assisted dying in England and Wales as the House of Commons passed the bill on Friday with 330 votes for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life Bill) and 275 against – a majority of 55.
The private members’ bill will give terminally ill people the right to choose to end their life.
However, the bill has not yet reached the stage of becoming law but will now move on to further parliamentary scrutiny.
Any future change in law will not come into force in Northern Ireland as it is a devolved matter.
In the vote on Friday, the SDLP’s Colum Eastwood was the only NI MP to vote in favour of legalising assisted dying.
His party leader Claire Hanna announced on Thursday that she would be abstaining.
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Meanwhile, the Alliance Party’s Sorcha Eastwood, UUP MP Robin Swann, TUV leader Jim Allister and independent unionist Alex Easton all voted against the bill.
The DUP’s five MPs – Gavin Robinson, Carla Lockhart, Gregory Campbell, Sammy Wilson and Jim Shannon – also voted against.
Sinn Fein’s seven MPs did not vote due to the party’s Westminster abstention policy.
Speaking during the emotional five-hour debate prior to the vote, the DUP’s Upper Bann MP Ms Lockhart told the House of Commons about her late father Kenneth, who died in June last year after battling “painful and aggressive” cancer.
DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart (Oliver McVeigh/PA)
“Terminally ill for five years with a painful and aggressive cancer, yet a faith that sustained him and a health service that sought to support, care, comfort and preserve his life,” she said.
“Consultants and medical staff who went over and above to ensure that he got every opportunity to see his family, and particularly his grandchildren, grow up.
“Did I want to see my dad suffer? Absolutely not, but equally those difficult times provided us with an opportunity to care for and express a love for a person whose life we valued.
“The root of my conviction is this – life in all its forms is of inherent worth and value, and while I have come to that conclusion – partly because of my faith – like everyone across the house, I have listened carefully to the evidence in coming to my conclusion on the danger this bill represents.”
Lagan Valley MP Ms Eastwood added that she wants to “support life”.
“We’re having this discussion in a sense that almost implies palliative care right across the UK is of the same excellent standard everywhere and I have to inform the house that it is not,” she told the House of Commons. “It is of deep regret that is the case.
“I also want to say that I feel that I cannot stand by this today because there are many vulnerable, marginalised people that will be impacted by this.
“I want to support life, I want to affirm life and I also want to do that with dignity.”
News Catch Up – Thursday 28 November