Neighbouring Black Country Labour MPs reveal split on assisted dying bill

West Bromwich MP Sarah Coombes and Tipton and Wednesbury MP Antonia Bance, who are both starting their parliamentary careers after being elected in July's General Election, will be voting differently in Parliament today.

There is a free vote in the House of Commons with MPs from all parties being allowed to vote with their conscience as opposed to along party lines as with most votes.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater tabled the private members bill which if becomes law will give terminally ill people the option to end their lives in the UK. Campaigners against the bill believe the new law will 'create a cull of disabled people'.

Miss Coombes wrote to constituents explaining why she is supporting the bill. 

She said: "I have decided to vote in favour of the Bill.  Death is a very hard thing to talk about, but when loved ones fall terminally ill, it becomes an awful reality that must be faced. When anyone receives the diagnosis of a terminal illness I think their first desire would be to live as long as possible and spend as much quality time with their friends and family as they can. 

"That’s why palliative care is so vital and I’m glad this Bill has brought debate around the importance of palliative care to the fore. If passed, this Bill requires the government to regularly assess the availability and quality of palliative care.  

"However for some people, no matter how good the palliative care, the reality of terminal illness means they face terrible suffering and the prospect of a drawn-out death where they will be in awful pain and lose control of their body and mind. In these circumstances I believe that an individual should have the right to decide to end their life on their own terms in a safe, dignified and peaceful way."

Miss Coombes pointed to the case of her West Bromwich constituent whose wife could not get life saving surgery so decided to die at Dignitas in Switzerland. On his return his house and been ransacked and the police investigated him for six months on suspicion of assisting a suicide.

The MP added: "English people who have a terminal illness should not have to travel to another country in order to have a peaceful and dignified death, surrounded by those who love them. I understand the real concern that - should assisted dying be legalised - it could be abused by people with bad intentions."

She added: I also understand the concerns that many disabled people might have about the fact that lives lived with significant disabilities and impairment should not be devalued or regarded as not worth living.  

"If I thought this Bill would lead to elderly, vulnerable or disabled people being pressured intending their own lives against their will, I would not vote for it."

Tipton and Wednesbury MP Antonia Bance informed constituents about her intention to vote against the bill in a video. 

She said: "I will vote against the Assisted Dying Bill. I didn't take this decision lightly, I spoke to doctors, hospices, nurses, disabled people, campaigners on all sides and read every letter and email sent to me before taking this decision.

"I have fought against discrimination all my life so I cannot vote for a bill which will risk the lives of disabled people in a world which already disadvantages them at every turn."