Statement: Assisted Dying

A statement from Jess Brown-Fuller, MP for Chichester, following the vote in Parliament on 11th November 2026 where MPs voted against legalising assisted dying.

Today, I voted against the second reading of the Assisted Dying Bill.

You may remember that I voted for the Bill at second reading last time, because I am in favour of the principle of an assisted death for terminally ill adults. This has not changed.

However, the Bill that was then presented and taken through the various stages was, in my view, unworkable. It was not proposing to introduce a Dignitas-style model, nor the Jersey Government’s model, which has recently been introduced.

The Bill in its current form would have meant that 50% of those seeking an assisted death at Dignitas would still not have been eligible under the UK’s legislation.

It also did not provide the essential safeguards to protect those with disabilities, people suffering from eating disorders or those experiencing coercion.

I recognise the strength of feeling on both sides of the debate and have made it a priority to read every piece of personal correspondence I have received on the issue.

The issue of assisted dying will now not return during this Parliament. We therefore now must focus our attention on fixing the crisis in palliative care, so that every person can experience a death that is well-managed and as free from pain as possible.