High Peak MP's response to historic bill

Jon Pearce MP has released a statement following the historic news that MPs have approved The Terminally Ill Adults Bill.

The Bill paves the way to give terminally ill adults in England and Wales the right to end their own lives, and was passed by the House of Commons on 20 June 2025 with a close vote of 314 to 290. This marked its third reading in the Commons, the final stage before it heads to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.

Jon Pearce MP said:

“The House of Commons has just voted on the Terminally Ill Adults Bill for the final time. I am under no illusion that the vote I have just cast will be one of the most significant ones I make as your Member of Parliament. 

I would like to say that I thought long and hard about how to vote on this emotive and complex issue. I have closely considered everything that local people have sent me about the Bill and whichever side of the debate that you fall on. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has contacted me by email or taken the time to speak to me about the Bill. 

Your voice really does matter, and I would not have been able to make as informed a decision without the hundreds of personal stories that have been shared with me by local people. Some of the experiences that constituents have shared with me will stay with me for the rest of my days. 

Ultimately I had to make a decision. That is what you elected me to do. 

I decided to cast my vote in favour of the Bill. I concluded that those who are terminally ill and near death ought to be able to decide how they die. To have lived on their terms. They should be able to die on their terms, with the dignity to the last. 

All those I have discussed the Bill with know how concerned I was to make sure the safeguards would protect vulnerable people from coercion. No Bill can ever be perfect but I concluded that they were and that the choice to die must sit alongside high-quality palliative care. I am glad that the Bill will be reviewed alongside palliative care in this country. 

The Bill will now progress to the House of Lords for further scrutiny, where further amendments could be made. 

I would like to reiterate just how grateful I am for how helpful and constructive I have found all of your engagements on this issue. I know some of you will be disappointed by final decision but I hope you understand how carefully I have come to my decision.”