If you’re wondering why there was such a drastic turn of events for the Assisted Dying Bill - from big majority to narrow defeat - there is a chapter in my book on what went wrong for supporters & right for opponents. Why did AD stumble in the UK when around the world it’s being rapidly legalised?

Paul Brand@paulbrand.bsky.social · 5mo ago

👇HERE IT IS👇 Fight to the Death is available to preorder now! Pink for UK, blue for USA. Out Oct 2026. amzn.eu/d/03eT2IMA The book invites you to witness, not judge, as it recounts extraordinary human stories from both sides of the assisted dying debate. All full of life, love and of course loss.

If you’re wondering why there was such a drastic turn of events for the Assisted Dying Bill - from big majority to narrow defeat - there is a chapter in my book on what went wrong for supporters & right for opponents. Why did AD stumble in the UK when around the world it’s being rapidly legalised?

Paul Brand@paulbrand.bsky.social · 5mo ago

👇HERE IT IS👇 Fight to the Death is available to preorder now! Pink for UK, blue for USA. Out Oct 2026. amzn.eu/d/03eT2IMA The book invites you to witness, not judge, as it recounts extraordinary human stories from both sides of the assisted dying debate. All full of life, love and of course loss.

BREAKING: MPs vote to REJECT the assisted dying bill. AYES 270 NOES 286 It now falls.

Just to explain what's happening here... MPs basically had a vote on whether or not to have a vote. 293 said yes let's please have a vote on the assisted dying bill 218 said no let's not (and it would potentially fail) It's all a bit confusing but that's the nub of it.

Another extraordinarily moving moment from today's debate, as Care Minister Alison McGovern shares that she lost her mum in July, which will inform her vote today. On both sides, this issue brings out the very essence of what it is to be human.

Another powerful speech, this time from supporter Marie Tidball who, as a disabled person herself, argues that the bill is safe and provides choice to disabled people. "By setting the bar high for dignity in death, we set the bar even higher for dignity in life."

Labour ‘big beast’ Hilary Benn speaks out in favour of assisted dying after leaving cabinet recently.

Sincere speech from Muslim MP Sadik Al-Hassan, who says that while his faith means he would be unlikely to choose an assisted death for himself, he does not believe he should stop others from having the choice. The role of faith in politics is a recurring theme of this debate.

We have yet to hear from an MP in the assisted dying debate who has changed their minds... Switchers were quite pivotal in the Scottish debate and vote earlier this year. If there are switchers in Westminster, they may of course choose to do so quietly.

Very powerful speech from @AshleyDalton_MP, who has stage 4 cancer and opposes the assisted dying bill. "I have been terrorised with tales of people vomiting up their own faeces...it is nothing short of irresponsible to scaremonger people like me into believing our deaths will be horrific..."

Supporter Kit Malthouse says he doesn't 'trust' the House of Lords to resist filibustering the bill a second time.

Passionate interventions as Jess Phillips, Karen Bradley and Naz Shah - each with deep insights into coercive control - debate the impact of the bill on vulnerable women. This bill cuts across parties and even areas of expertise.

The tone of the assisted dying debate is very different this time. Less about the big picture arguments, more about procedural wrangling. Was it right for the Lords to frustrate the bill (ask supporters), is it right for the bill to be forced through unamended (ask opponents).

Significant turnout. This is going to be interesting.

Paul Brand@paulbrand.bsky.social · 3d ago

Both sides of the assisted dying debate believe the vote is close, but winnable for them today. Turnout remains key. This also reminds me of the hours leading up to the vote in Holyrood earlier this year, where nobody really knew what was going to happen until the debate got underway...

Both sides of the assisted dying debate believe the vote is close, but winnable for them today. Turnout remains key. This also reminds me of the hours leading up to the vote in Holyrood earlier this year, where nobody really knew what was going to happen until the debate got underway...

Feels as if the assisted dying vote tomorrow is going to come down to attendance. Both sides believe it could be close. Question is what happens to soft supporters (and opponents) who aren’t overly invested in this one issue and would rather not have to make a stand.

Totally weird decision. A distinctive and popular programme that serves an underrepresented audience whilst also appealing to a wider viewership. Cut something bland instead. www.dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/ar...

RuPaul's Drag Race is axed from the BBC after 11 series amid cuts

RuPaul's Drag Race has been axed from the BBC after 11 series amid savage cuts.

dailymail.com

NEW: 100+ peers have urged MPs to pass the assisted dying bill when it returns on Fri. They accuse a minority of peers of ‘filibustering’ last time and say Lords must complete scrutiny. They include former cabinet secretary Gus O’Donnell & Burnham’s political hero Neil Kinnock.

Nigel Farage tells LBC: “We as a party have done nothing wrong.” “We’ve not taken illegal money of any kind whatsoever”. “That’s nothing, that’s nothing”, he says in regard to the funding of polling. “Polls are funded by people overseas every single week.”

BREAKING: Reform UK’s James Orr and Dan Jukes have ‘stepped down’ from their roles following last night’s undercover filming on Channel 4 News. Nigel Farage remains in post.

Plenty of point scoring in that PMQs. No real change in tone, though at times Burnham tried to take it down a gear. In reality a system which positions leaders face to face at 'sword's length' is only ever going to deliver adversarial exchanges.

Badenoch's first question to new PM Andy Burnham at PMQs: "Can he tell me one single spending request to which the answer he gave was no?" Burnham doesn't volunteer one, but talks about how to bring down the welfare bill long term.

Strong performances at the despatch box by both Burnham and Badenoch today. This is shaping up to be a more sparky dynamic, for those who enjoy the sport of parliamentary politics.

Looking at Holborn and St Pancras, Greens had a good result in the locals, but Labour came out on top and held 25/30 seats. Labour's drop 2024-2026 lower than in others, though 2024 result wasn't a high point. Given Green dip in polls since then. Labour start out as favourites, but lots can shift.

If Polanski stands in Holborn, it’s kinda wild that three current party leaders will have all stood in by-elections in the past three months. By-elections rarely been so in vogue! (Burnham, Farage, Polanski).

NEW: Sounds like Zack Polanski is seriously mulling standing in Holborn & St Pancras. Green Party Spox: “Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years"

BREAKING: The Camden New Journal is reporting that Keir Starmer will stand down as an MP, sparking a by-election. The first electoral test for Andy Burnham as PM. www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/excl...

Exclusive: Sir Keir Starmer to step down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras

Former PM thanks local Labour supporters and says he is proud of what he delivered in 11 years in the House of Commons

camdennewjournal.co.uk

This week the Northern Territory of Australia became the last to legalise assisted dying there, meaning it is now legal across the whole of Australia. France also voted to introduce it this summer. Everywhere you look this debate is taking place. All contained in my book, Fight to the Death.

Paul Brand@paulbrand.bsky.social · 2w ago

NEW: Burnham to abstain on assisted dying, he tells Labour MPs. Supporters believe this is significant, because while Burnham believes social and hospice care should be reformed before AD, he is not seeking to influence the vote. MPs have free rein. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

NEW: Burnham to abstain on assisted dying, he tells Labour MPs. Supporters believe this is significant, because while Burnham believes social and hospice care should be reformed before AD, he is not seeking to influence the vote. MPs have free rein. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Andy Burnham to abstain on assisted dying bill to avoid influencing debate

Exclusive: PM also warns his ministers against trying to influence vote when bill returns to Commons next month

theguardian.com

✍🏻 Signed copies of Fight to the Death are now available to pre-order from this lovely independent book seller ❤️ And for a special discounted price too! www.welbooks.co.uk/shop/p/fight...

Fight to the Death by Paul Brand (Signed) — West End Lane Books

signed pre-order hardback Published 1st October Assisted dying is a question that reaches into the deepest parts of us, sitting at the intersection of medicine, morality and personal liberty....

welbooks.co.uk