ASSISTED suicide legislation will return to the Commons on June 13, after MPs voted to end today’s debate.

Kim Leadbeater MP’s End of Life (Terminally Ill Adults) Bill will then continue its report stage.

MPs backed an amendment confirming that no medical professional will be obliged to participate in the assisted dying process.

Campaigners for and against assisted dying rallied outside Parliament as MPs entered an often fractious five-hour debate.

Ms Leadbeater argued that “if we do not vote to change the law, we are essentially saying that the status quo is acceptable.

“Too many have seen their terminally ill loved ones take their own lives out of desperation, or make the traumatic, lonely and costly trip to Switzerland,” she said.

But things got off to a stormy start as MPs called on Ms Leadbeater to disown celebrity assisted dying advocate Dame Esther Rantzen, who on Thursday accused opponents of the Bill of having “undeclared religious beliefs.”

Labour MP Jess Asato said Dame Esther’s claim was “disrespectful,” while her colleague Florence Eshalomi said it was “insulting.

“Members with valid concerns about this Bill are not raising it because of some ideology or religious belief.

“It is because we recognise that … it may impact everyone, not just those who may wish to die. It is not scaremongering to consider … relationships with feelings of burdens or coercion including vulnerable women and people from [ethnic minorities].”

The increased risk within oppressed groups like women and black people of being made to feel a burden or “steered” towards assisted death were raised by MPs including Diane Abbott and Anneliese Dodds.

Ms Leadbeater was accused of disrespecting her opponents by MPs including Labour’s Naz Shah and the Conservatives’ Simon Hoare, for the “chaotic” approach to amendments — Ms Shah was not informed that her own had been accepted — and for not remaining in the chamber for all contributions.

The Spen Valley MP ducked a question on criticisms from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which said this week it could not support the Bill, answering merely that it was neutral on the principle of assisted dying.

York Central MP Rachael Maskell said MPs should “listen to the experts,” with medical professionals’ concerns being discounted.

Ms Abbott posted on X: “Medical professionals do not back this Bill... Most important, not a single organisation of disabled people backs it.”