I wanted to let you know how I voted today and my reasons for doing so.

I voted to allow the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to progress further.

It is only after sitting in the chamber and listening to the whole debate today that I chose to support the Bill going forward to the next stage, giving the opportunity for scrutiny and further improvement.

The Bill will now go to a committee of MPs who will consider it line by line and they have the power to call for witnesses and evidence to support their work. This Committee can make changes to the Bill before it comes back to the House of Commons for another vote at Third Reading. I will decide how I will vote at the next stage only after this further debate and scrutiny.

If the Commons does approve the Bill at Third Reading it will then go through the same process in the House of Lords before coming back to the Commons for final say. Only after all of these stages would the Bill be sent for Royal Assent and become law.

I have been struck by how many people have welcomed how this debate has made us talk more honestly and openly about end of life and death. The overwhelming message from everyone that’s interacted with me on this issue is that we need to further improve palliative and end of life care. This is a focus I will take forward.

I’m keen to continue to hear your views as the Bill Committee gets on with its work in the coming months.