Wolverhampton MP's Assisted Dying Bill defeated in Parliament

The Commons declined to give a second reading to Wolverhampton South West MP, Rob Marris' Assisted Dying Bill by 330 to 118, a majority of 212, firmly rejecting measures which would have handed adults of sound mind and with less than six months to live the right to ask for medical help to die.

The debate was the first time since 1997 the Commons had voted on the right to die.

The issue broke across party lines as MPs on both sides of the Commons deployed personal anecdotes, career experience and a background in faith to press their case.

During the debate Mr Marris told MPs: "I hope today we can see Parliament at is best, with an open debate and a free vote on a matter of conscience.

"The current law does not meet the needs of the terminally ill, does not meet the needs of their loved ones. And in some way it does not meet the needs of the medical profession.

"We have amateur suicides going on. We have what would be technically illegal assistance going on. We have those who have the means going off to Dignitas in Switzerland.

"It is time Parliament grasped this issue."

He promised his bill contained safeguards to stop anyone being forced to take their own lives. Two doctors, independent of each other, would have to agree that the person was of sound mind and had no more than six months to live anyway. And a judge would have the final say.

For

Adrian Bailey, West Bromwich West

Rob Marris, Wolverhampton South West

Pat McFadden, Wolverhampton South East

Emma Reynolds, Wolverhampton North East

David Winnick, Walsall North

Against

Sir Bill Cash, Stone

Margot James, Stourbridge

Jeremy Lefroy, Stafford

Amanda Milling, Cannock Chase

James Morris, Halesowen and Rowley Regis

Wendy Morton, Aldridge-Brownhills

John Spellar, Warley

Valerie Vaz, Walsall South

Gavin Williamson, South Staffordshire

But on the issue of people who may feel a 'burden' on their families Mr Marris said: "I hope that patients do not feel that, but I cannot guarantee it."

"The coercion of the vulnerable is the most difficult issue for me. That's where the context should be borne in mind. This bill provides protection for the living. What we have at the moment is protection for the dead when it is too late. Because it is only after people die in questionable circumstances that an investigation is made."

Protesters on both sides of the argument stood outside the Houses of Parliament for the landmark debate.

And an unprecedented 85 MPs had asked to speak.

The chamber is normally only sparsely attended on Fridays as MPs spend time in their constituencies.

Many of the speeches warned of risks in the proposed law.

Former environment secretary Caroline Spelman said: "It is possible, with sheer humanity to make dying better. Still, 50 per cent of us will die in hospital. There is a significant risk that passing this Bill will reduce the resource of hospices."

"The existing law protects the elderly and the disabled and those who might feel pressure to die."

And former defence secretary Liam Fox added: "It is all too easy to open a Pandora's Box with unintended consequences. It fundamentally changes the relationship between doctor and patient."

But follow Tory Crispin Blunt said: "We are the party of freedom and choice."

And Telford MP Lucy Allan warned: "A vote against this bill will not stop assisted dying, it will simply send a message that we will not debate it further."

She read out a letter from a constituent who told how she watched her mother suffering and had thought of smothering her, but had not.

"It's their life, not ours."

David Cameron was on a visit to Yorkshire but expressed his opposition.

The Prime Minister said there were 'dangers' in the proposals and warned against an 'expansion of euthanasia'.

He said: "The decision I've come to is I don't see a case for this measure. I don't want to see an expansion of euthanasia in our country. I think there are dangers and so I don't support it."