MPs vote in favour of legalising assisted dying in England and Wales

Assisted dying campaigners in front of the Houses of Parliament in London on Friday. Photograph: Jack Taylor/Reuters

A bill to permit assisted dying in England and Wales has passed an initial vote by MPs, after an earlier version of the proposed law was blocked by the Lords.

In the second reading of the new private member’s bill put forward by Lauren Edwards, MPs voted by 293 to 218 in the Commons for the bill to progress.