The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill seeks to legalise assisted suicide.
On Friday 20 June 2025 MPs voted on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
They voted to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales by 314 : 291 votes, a majority of 23. This was lower than the 55 vote majority at the first vote in November 2024, with many MPs switching sides to vote against, but not enough to stop the Bill.
The Bill is now with the House of Lords for examination.
The chief whip in the House of Lords has assigned an extra 10 days at the start of 2026 for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to be debated.
The House of Lords will now sit, and consider the Bill on, 9, 16, 23 and 30 January; 6 and 27 February; 13, 20 and 27 March and 24 April.
UPDATE, Friday 24 April: Committee Stage concludes. Bill fallen.
Contact a Peer to oppose Assisted Suicide: Guide from the Catholic Bishops' Conference
Ask Peers to oppose the Bill
In addition to the below news stories you can also find information on the Bishops' Conference website
UK Catholic Medical Association position statement and section on website
Educational Resources - Anscombe Bioethics Centre has produced resources on assisted dying and euthanasia.
On the end of the Committee Stage of the Terminally Ill (Adults) End of Life Bill in the House of Lords (Friday 24 April) Read more
Plus an invitation to take part in a Holy Hour for the Dignity of Life on Sunday 19 April Read more
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales gathered at Hinsley Hall in the Diocese of Leeds for their autumn plenary meeting. Statements were issued on assisted suicide and abortion, and environmental matters. Read more
As the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is being considered at length in the House of Lords, we reiterate our firm opposition to the bill in principle and in practice Read more
"The vote is a watershed moment in the history of our country. It fundamentally changes society’s long held values and relationships on matters of life and death." Read more
This is not the end of the parliamentary process, and we should not lose hope Read more
Statement on the precarious situation facing care homes and hospices if the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passes its Third Reading on Friday 20 June Read more
A decisive vote in the House of Commons is likely to take place on Friday 20 June. There's still time to contact your MP and ask them to vote no to assisted suicide. Read more
Following the debate on Friday 16 May 2025 Read more
Catholics urged to contact their MPs – even if they have done so already – to oppose the Bill that seeks to legalise assisted suicide. Archbishop Bernard Longley, together with all Bishops, issues a Pastoral Letter. Read more
The Lead Bishop for Life Issues invites you to contact your MP ahead of the Bill's Third Reading and vote Read more
Bishop Paul Mason, Lead Bishop for Health and Social Care, issued a reflection on the World Day of the Sick saying that we must remember how crucial palliative and hospice care is. February 2025. Read more
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference and Archbishop of Westminster, has called the way in which the assisted suicide bill is being handled “deeply irresponsible” and a “shambles”. February 2025. Read more
Statement from the Bishops' Conference following the debate and vote in parliament, November 2024. Read more
Ahead of this Friday's Second Reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, please take time to watch a short documentary highlighting some of the grave concerns around its proposals. November 2024. Read more
Pastoral Letter of the Most Reverend Bernard Longley Archbishop of Birmingham for the Thirty-Third Sunday In Ordinary Time (16/17 November 2024) Read more
We urge all people of goodwill to oppose this legislation and, instead, to advocate for better funded palliative care which is consistently available to everyone in need. The Second Reading of the Bill is today, Friday 29 November 2024. Read more
Bishops’ Holy Hour: 5.30pm on Wednesday 13 November 2024. All invited to join. Read more
Bishops' Conference: We are calling on Catholics in England and Wales to unite in prayer and compassionate action to oppose assisted suicide. New Bill to be debated on Friday 29 November 2024. Read more
Bishop John Sherrington is encouraging Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action as Parliament prepares to renew the debate around assisted suicide. September 2024. Read more
Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, has issued a statement on the publication of a report by the Health and Social Care Select Committee on Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide. March 2024. Read more
Open letter to Catholics and national Novena to St John Paul II ahead of Second Reading in the House of Lords, with full debate, on Friday 22 October 2021. Read more