The Conservative MP for North East Cambridgeshire and former health secretary has published an open letter explaining why he voted against the Assisted Dying Bill.  

The proposed law to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales cleared its first parliamentary hurdle today after 330 MPs voted in favour, to 275 against.  

Steve Barclay was among those who voted against.  

He has since published an open letter to his constituents explaining why he went with the decision.  

"The risk of elderly patients feeling pressure not to be a burden to others” was cited among his reasons.  

The letter says: “The principle of giving people more control over their end of life is one I support. 

“The current law is also restrictive and creating problems for loving families.  

“But I also believe no one should be coerced by others to end their life prematurely, or feel forced to do so due to lack of care.   

“In balancing these principles, I voted against the Assisted Dying Bill before the House of Commons today.” 

He continued: “Specific concerns I hold include the evidence from other countries which have introduced similar legislation, the risk of elderly patients feeling pressure not to be a burden to others and the likelihood of judicial activism weaking safeguards currently in the Bill.   

“There is also more that we can, and should, do through palliative care, which I hope this debate will encourage progress on. In particular, we need to do more to address the variation in the care available in different areas.  

“I have been struck by how colleagues across Parliament, and those in the constituency who have contacted me, have sought to approach this issue in good faith and recognise the range of views that are deeply held.   

“The debate has focussed on an area of healthcare that is usually less debated – that of how to have a good death.  

“It is an important debate, and one where I hope there will be much more focus over the course of this Parliament.” 

The five Cambridgeshire MPs who voted in favour of the Bill were: Ian Sollom, the Lib Dem MP for St Neots and Mid-Cambridgeshire; Charlotte Cane, the Lib Dem MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire; Sam Carling, the Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire; Pippa Heylings, the Lib Dem MP for South Cambridgeshire; and Daniel Zeichner, the Labour MP for Cambridge Lab.  

Ben Obese-Jecty, the MP for Huntingdon (Cons) and Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes (Lab) voted against.