Welsh Senedd rejects assisted dying

The Welsh Parliament has voted against implementing assisted dying. Twenty-six voted against a change in the law, while 19 voted in favour, with nine abstentions in a vote which is not legally binding.

The Senedd does not have sufficient power to change the law on the issue, but a cross-party motion submitted by Labour member Julie Morgan had called for terminally ill people in ‘intolerable suffering’ who want to die to be given the chance to do so, aided by medical professionals.

The result will likely be seen as a blow for those campaigning to legalise assisted suicide in the UK parliament with a vote set to take place in the near future. Several high-profile government figures, including Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner are believed to be against a change in the law due to concerns with safeguarding and the potential impact upon palliative care.