The Welsh Parliament’s role with regard to “assisted dying” proposals is complex, with health devolved but justice reserved to Westminster, but Senedd Cymru would have a role in implementing any new law passed at Westminster, and MSs have voted on the subject. Below, you can see how those running for re-election voted on a motion of support for a change in the law, which was rejected 26-19 in October 2024. MSs voted more recently on a Legislative Consent Motion for the Leadbeater Bill, but members’ votes cannot be read as simple support for or opposition to a change in the law.
Candidates at this election (where Senedd Cymru will expand from 60 seats to 96) must hear that assisted suicide and access to palliative and supportive care are vote-defining issues. Some 16 MSs are reported to be stepping down; see below how those who are running again voted on the motion of support for a change in the law.
Aye: 13
- Hannah Blythyn (Labour)
- Jayne Bryant (Labour)
- Alun Davies (Labour)
- James Evans (Conservative)
- Luke Fletcher (Plaid Cymru)
- Heledd Fychan (Plaid Cymru)
- Vikki Howells (Labour)
- Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru)
- Rhys ab Owen (Independent; then Plaid Cymru)
- Adam Price (Plaid Cymru)
- Jack Sargeant (Labour)
- Sioned Williams (Plaid Cymru)
- Buffy Williams (Labour)
No: 18
- Gareth Davies (Conservative)
- Andrew RT Davies (Conservative)
- Jane Dodds (Liberal Democrat)
- Janet Finch-Saunders (Conservative)
- Peredur Owen Griffiths (Plaid Cymru)
- Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru)
- Mabon ap Gwynfor (Plaid Cymru)
- Mike Hedges (Labour)
- Altaf Hussain (Conservative)
- Huw Irranca-Davies (Labour)
- Joel James (Conservative)
- Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru)
- Samuel Kurtz (Conservative)
- Darren Millar (Conservative)
- Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan (Labour)
- Lynne Neagle (Labour)
- Rhianon Passmore (Labour)
- Sam Rowlands (Conservative)
Abstained: 7
- Cefin Campbell (Plaid Cymru)
- Paul Davies (Conservative)
- Peter Fox (Conservative)
- Tom Giffard (Conservative)
- Laura Anne Jones (Reform UK; then Conservative)
- Sarah Murphy (Labour)
- Carolyn Thomas (Labour)
Absent: 6
- Natasha Asghar (Conservative)
- Siân Gwenllian (Plaid Cymru)
- Elin Jones (Plaid Cymru)
- David Rees (Labour)
- Ken Skates (Labour)
- Lindsay Whittle (Plaid Cymru) (elected at a by-election since the 2024 vote)
Image: Senedd Cymru/Flickr (Creative Commons)