Overview
- The House of Commons voted 286 to 270 to reject the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill after a more than four‑hour debate on Friday, September 11, 2026.
- The bill would have allowed adults in England and Wales judged by two doctors to have under six months to live to apply for an assisted death subject to approval by an expert panel.
- The government took no position and Prime Minister Andy Burnham abstained so MPs voted on conscience rather than party instruction.
- Opponents cited inadequate safeguards, risks to vulnerable people, uncertainty in medical prognosis and the Lords’ heavy amendment process as reasons several MPs reversed earlier support.
- With assisted dying remaining illegal, the defeat ends this Bill’s progress for now, closes the narrowly available Parliament Acts route and makes improved funding and reform of palliative and social care the likely next focus.