Solihull MP Neil Shastri-Hurst backs assisted dying bill as MPs prepare to vote

Solihull MP Neil Shastri-Hurst is backing legislation that would give some terminally ill adults in England and Wales the option of an assisted death as MPs prepare for a crucial vote in Parliament.

The Conservative MP for Solihull West and Shirley has previously made clear that he intends to support the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Shastri-Hurst, who has a background in both medicine and healthcare law, was one of the MPs who signed a letter supporting the legislation during its previous passage through Parliament.

In that letter, he and other MPs with medical backgrounds said the current law was failing terminally ill people.

They said it “criminalises compassion” and forces some dying people into “unbearable pain, unmitigated suffering, or the traumatic decision to end their lives overseas.”

Shastri-Hurst has also previously said his decision was based on evidence and compassion.

In a statement about his position, he said: “As a barrister, as well as a clinician, I know it is a difficult area of law, but I have reached my decision based upon evidence and grounded in compassion.”

What would the bill mean?

The proposed law would apply to adults in England and Wales who are terminally ill and have six months or less to live.

It would not create a general right for someone to request assisted dying simply because they are elderly, disabled or suffering from a long-term illness.

Under the proposed system, an eligible person would have to make a voluntary and informed decision, with their request subject to checks by two doctors and an independent panel.

The process would therefore involve more than a single doctor approving a request.

Supporters argue that the safeguards would provide terminally ill people with greater control over the final stages of their lives, while opponents remain concerned about whether vulnerable people could be pressured into choosing assisted death.

Why is Parliament voting again?

The legislation was previously passed by the Commons in June 2025 by 314 votes to 291.

However, it subsequently ran out of parliamentary time in the House of Lords after hundreds of amendments were tabled.

The bill has now been reintroduced by Labour MP Lauren Edwards and has returned to the Commons for another vote.

Today's vote is therefore an important test of whether MPs still support the legislation following the previous parliamentary process.

The government is maintaining a neutral position, meaning MPs are free to vote according to their own views rather than being required to follow a party line.

What could it mean for people in Solihull?

If the bill eventually becomes law, terminally ill people living in Solihull who meet the criteria could eventually be able to apply for an assisted death rather than being forced to travel overseas.

It could also have implications for local healthcare services, doctors and end-of-life care.

Doctors would have to assess requests under the new system, while the legislation also provides for healthcare professionals to have protections around participation.

The debate has also raised wider questions about the availability of palliative care and whether the NHS has enough resources to provide high-quality end-of-life support alongside any assisted dying system.

Opponents argue that the safeguards may not be sufficient and have raised concerns about pressure on vulnerable people, the difficulty of accurately predicting whether someone has six months left to live and the ability of patients to make decisions free from coercion.

What happens after the vote?

A vote in favour would not immediately make assisted dying legal.

If the bill passes this stage, it would continue through further parliamentary scrutiny and amendments before another Commons vote. It would then need to pass through the House of Lords before it could become law.

For Shastri-Hurst, today's vote continues an issue on which he has already taken a clear position.

His support means Solihull West and Shirley has a local MP backing the proposed change to the law, while the wider debate continues over whether the safeguards provide enough protection for vulnerable people.