MPs in Norfolk and Waveney were split in a historic vote to change the law to legalise assisted dying.

As campaigners staged demonstrations outside, MPs voted 330 to 275 - a majority of 55 -  to approve the private members bill introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater.

The region's MPs who voted for the bill, as it cleared its first parliamentary hurdle, were:

Labour's Terry Jermy (South West Norfolk), Clive Lewis (North South), Alice Macdonald (Norwich North)

Conservatives George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) and James Wild (North West Norfolk)

Liberal Democrat Steffan Aquarone (North Norfolk)

Reform UK's Rupert Lowe (Great Yarmouth)

Green Adrian Ramsay (Waveney Valley)

Those who voted against it were:

Labour's Jess Asato (Lowestoft) and Ben Goldsborough (South Norfolk)

Conservative Jerome Mayhew (Broadland and Fakenham)

Jess Asato Labour MP for LowestoftJess Asato Labour MP for Lowestoft (Image: UK Parliament)

Ms Asato was the only Norfolk and Waveney MP selected to speak in the debate, where she outlined why she was voting against the bill.

She said, prior to becoming an MP, she had spent almost a decade working to protect vulnerable women and children from harm - and feared the law change could lead to people being coerced.

She said: "Whilst I would have once been supportive of the principle of assisted dying and might wish this option for myself, I have increasingly found myself unable to reconcile my desire to safeguard the most vulnerable with putting that principle into practice.

“I am concerned if this bill passes we will see people coerced, either by an abuser or by societal expectations, into ending their own lives.

People take part in a demonstration opposing the billPeople take part in a demonstration opposing the bill (Image: Yui Mok / PA)

"I have come to the view that no bill, however drafted, can adequately sift those with a genuine desire to end their own life from those doing it for all the wrong reasons."

The four-and-a-half hour debate in the Commons heard arguments from MPs about a need to give choice to dying people.

Ms Leadbeater insisted her bill has strict safeguards against coercion and said a new law would give society “a much better approach towards end of life”.

North West Norfolk MP James WildNorth West Norfolk MP James Wild (Image: Newsquest)

After the vote, North West Norfolk MP Mr Wild explained why he had voted in favour.

He said: "After much reflection, I supported the bill, as it is important to give people more control and dignity over their end of life in terminally ill cases.

"As the bill goes forward there will be the opportunity for further debate, scrutiny, and strengthening of powers to address genuine concerns that have been raised and ensure safeguards protect vulnerable people from feeling pressured. Then I will take a final view before the third reading.”

Dr Peter PrinsleyDr Peter Prinsley (Image: Denise Bradley)Dr Peter Prinsley, Norwich city councillor for Bowthorpe and Labour MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, also took part in the debate.

He works as a consultant surgeon at the James Paget Hospital at Gorleston and has a private practice at the Spire Hospital in Colney.

Campaign group Dignity in Dying demonstrates in support of the bill outside the Houses of ParliamentCampaign group Dignity in Dying demonstrates in support of the bill outside the Houses of Parliament (Image: Stefan Rousseau / PA)

He voted for the bill, saying he had changed his mind on the matter during his career.

He said: "When I was a young doctor I thought it unconscionable, but I am an old doctor and I feel sure it is the right change."

He said he had seen terminally ill cancer patients in "uncontrollable distress" and that people deserved to be able to die with dignity.

Dr Prinsley said: "We are talking here of people at the end of their lives wishing to choose the time and place to die.

"This is not some sort of slippery slope. We are shortening death, not life for our patients."

He said he believed the bill had "strict safeguards", which would be further refined as it progressed.

The bill will next go to committee stage where MPs can table amendments, before facing further scrutiny and votes in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, meaning any change in the law would not be agreed until next year at the earliest.

Labour MP Kim LeadbeaterLabour MP Kim Leadbeater (Image: PA)

Ms Leadbeater has said it would likely be a further two years from then for an assisted dying service to be in place.

Only terminally adults expected to die within six months, who have been resident in England and Wales and registered with a GP for at least 12 months would be able to choose to end their lives - if the bill does become law.

They must have the mental capacity to make a choice about the end of their life and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish – free from coercion or pressure.

They must make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to die.

The process must involve two independent doctors being satisfied the person is eligible and the medics can consult other specialists and experts.

A High Court judge must hear from at least one of the doctors and can question the dying person, as well as anyone else they consider appropriate.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer voted in favour of the assisted dying legislation.

The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, who has a seat in the House of Lords, had urged the region's MPs to oppose the bill.

He had said: "I am concerned about the experience of countries which have legalised it, the impact assisted suicide would have on the most vulnerable, the lack of time the bill has had for scrutiny, and what a change in the law would say about the value of human life.

"Legalising assisted suicide would shift the NHS from the protector of life to an enabler of death. I do not think it is right to ask this of healthcare professionals. It will put huge pressure on them."

The Rt Rev Peter Collins, the Roman Catholic Bishop of East Anglia, had asked Catholics to write to their MP urging them to vote against the proposals.

He said: "The absolute value and dignity of each and every human life is a principle not subject to variation."

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