Divided Votes: Three Brixton MPs oppose Assisted Dying Bill as it clears first hurdle in the Commons

Three of the four MPs that cover our Brixton Buzz patch voted against the Assisted Dying Bill in the House of Commons today.

Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green), Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) and Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill) all voted against the bill that was carried.

Steve Reed (Streatham and Croydon North) is the one MP from our area that voted in favour of assisted dying.

Reed is also the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. He joined his party Leader, Sir Keir Starmer, in the voting lobby to help carry the first stage of the bill.

The final vote to legalise assisted dying for the terminally ill in England and Wales was 330 in favour, with 275 against.

Explaining her decision on X, Eshalomi said:

“I voted against the Assisted Dying legislation in Parliament today. We should be helping people to live comfortable pain-free lives, on their own terms, before we think about making it easier for them to die. Freedom in death is only possible if you’ve had freedom in life.”

You can watch a clip of her contribution to the debate below.

Elsewhere and it’s worth checking in on some familiar faces.

Jim Dickson, MP for Dartford, and STILL the ward Councillor for Herne Hill and Loughborough Junction, also voted alongside his party Leader in supporting the bill.

Likewise for Tom Rutland, the MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, and one time ward Councillor in Streatham Common and Vale.

Voting against the bill in the lobby was another ex-Lambeth Cabinet member in Imogen Walker, MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley.

As the Assisted Dying Bill moves forward, it seems the debate over life and death continues to spark deeply personal divisions — even among those representing the same community.