Live updates as Senedd members to debate law around assisted dying

Senedd members will this afternoon vote on whether to back calls for the law around assisted dying in England and Wales to be changed. The Senedd doesn't have the power to change the law, but the motion calls on the Welsh Government to both support the principle of assisted dying and support Westminster to "introduce a compassionate assisted dying law in England and Wales".

The vote is non-binding and members will not have to vote on party lines after being given a so-called free vote. The hope of those who are in support of the change is that if the Senedd backs today's motion, it would put pressure on Westminster to enact a change in the law across the UK. Kim Leadbeater MP has introduced her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to the House of Commons which will be heard on Friday, November 29.

The motion has cross party support. It has been submitted by Labour's Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan, but has co-submitters from Plaid Cymru (Heledd Fychan, Adam Price) and the Welsh Conservatives (James Evans), as well as an additional five supporters (Carolyn Thomas, Jenny Rathbone, Mick Antoniw, Natasha Asghar and Rhys ab Owen).

The debate will last an hour and is expected to take place around 3pm. The vote will then be at the end of the day's business, expected to be around 7.30pm.

Ahead of the debate there will be a rally outside the Senedd in support of the proposal, organised by humanists, and one against. The protest against is being organised by Distant Voices, Christian Concern, the Christian Medical Fellowship and SPUC. They say allowing assisted suicide and euthanasia leads to more suffering and harm, not less. The rally in support is being led by humanists who say "people who are suffering deserve compassion,