'Your courage and compassion have helped bring about this hugely important change in the law'

ON a historic day, MPs listened and backed assisted dying for England and Wales - giving hope to all those who want choice at the end of life.

- By Hanna Geissler and Martyn Brown

The House of Commons voted 314 to 291 in favour of allowing the landmark bill to proceed to the Lords in a major victory for campaigners, MP Kim Leadbeater, Dame Esther Rantzen and the Daily Express.

Veteran broadcaster Dame Esther, who has fought tirelessly on behalf of all terminally ill people, thanked our readers and those who shared personal stories.

She said: “Your courage and compassion, reliving painful memories from your lives and battling to protect others from experiencing the same agony, helped bring about this hugely important change in the law.

“Congratulations and well done. Your brave voices have been heard at last.”

Dame Esther, 84, knows any change in the law will not come in time for her as she battles stage four lung cancer.

But she said a legal option of assisted dying “will make a huge positive difference, protecting millions of terminally ill patients and their families from the agony and loss of dignity created by a bad death. Thank you, Parliament”.

The Childline founder's daughter Rebecca Wilcox watched the debate in the public gallery before joining campaigners outside in Parliament Square.

Describing a phone call with her mum after the vote, the TV presenter said Dame Esther had gasped and uttered one word: “Wow.” Rebecca added: “If there were three letters that describe this feeling, it’s ‘wow’. Then if there's two words, it's 'thank you'.

“Everyone in Parliament was saying this is the most important vote they will be part of in their political career, which is extraordinary. This has been going on since the 1930s, so to have a result in my lifetime and to be part of it is just amazing.”

Terminally ill single mum Sophie Blake, who issued a final plea to MPs on the front page of yesterday's Express, said she was “completely overwhelmed” after the vote.