MPs rejected the controversial Assisted Suicide Bill yesterday as euthanasia supporters and opponents clashed outside Parliament.

An “unprecedented” 85 MPs sought to speak on the proposed new law, which would have made euthanasia legal in Britain, before it was defeated by 330 votes to 118.

Labour MP Rob Marris, who introduced the Bill, said: “The current law does not meet the needs of the terminally ill, does not meet the needs of their loved ones.

“We have amateur suicides going on. We have what would be technically illegal assistance going on,” said the Wolverhampton South West MP.

Had it passed, the legislation would have made terminally ill people with less than six months to live eligible for help to end their lives, provided they were mentally fit and aware of alternatives.

Two doctors and a High Court judge would have had to approve the request and the patient’s eligibility before the right to die would be granted.

As the debate progressed, members of organisations in favour of and opposed to assisted suicide faced each other in parallel and equally loud protests.

Disabled Activists for Dignity in Dying co-ordinator Greg Judge told the Star he had had confidence in the proposed legislation.

“I believe in the values of personal choice, independence, autonomy — the values disabled people have fought for for years and years,” said Mr Judge.

“Why are we now denying those very same values to dying people?

“Surely, if you embrace those values and you want to embody them, you want those very same values for other groups of people while still protecting your right to life.”

However, 77-year-old Elsbeth Best believed the Bill would “only be pushing people towards asking to die because they are made to feel selfish unless they do.

“I don’t want to be bumped off when I am more of a nuisance than I am already.”

Disabled People Against Cuts spokesman Bob Williams-Findlay argued that the Bill was “flawed,” “discriminatory” and “dangerous.

“It isn’t really about choice, it’s not really about individual atonement, because it is only aimed at a narrow group of people who have the ability to kill themselves and people can make that choice already.

“What this does is, it changes the mindset and says there are people who are separate and people who are a burden to their families or society.”