The MP for Bracknell is seeking people’s views on whether to give terminally ill people the right to choose to end their life, ahead of a vote on the issue in Parliament next month.

The bill, introduced by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater, will see politicians decide on the issue for the first time in nine years, after rejecting a similar bill in 2015.

First introduced to Parliament on October 16, the legislation says assisted dying would be legalised 'subject to safeguards and protections'.

Assisted dying refers to a person  who is terminally ill receiving lethal drugs from a medical practitioner, which they administer themselves.

The bill will be debated and voted on for the first time on November 29.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has given Labour MPs a free vote on the issue, meaning they can use their own conscience rather than along a particular party line.

Assisted suicide - which means intentionally helping another person to end their life - is currently punishable by up to 14 years in jail.

Peter Swallow MP says that he is ‘not yet decided’ on the issue and is inviting resident’s perspectives and experiences to help and inform which way he will vote.

Mr Swallow said: “I am holding the meeting to provide an opportunity to residents of Bracknell to share their experiences and views on this complex ethical issue.

“It touches issues ranging from the ethical convictions of healthcare professionals to the dignity of individuals enduring suffering.”

As a free vote, Mr Swallow said he is ‘not yet decided on which way I will vote’, with ‘many aspects of this issue to consider’.

He continued: “This meeting will be an opportunity for me to listen to different perspectives.”

It comes as the Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said that he will vote against the bill. Mr Streeting warned Labour MPs that he does not think that the country’s palliative care system is good enough to cope with the change.

Campaigners Dignity in Dying say that assisted dying allows a person with a terminal condition the choice to control their death if they decide their suffering is unbearable.

But advocates against assisted dying group Care Not Killing has said that the focus should be on promoting better palliative care, and argue that the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be at risk if the law changes.

The British Medical Association and Royal College of Nursing have neutral positions on assisted dying.

Mr Swallow’s meeting with residents will take place on Friday, November 22, with more information available by emailing peter.swallow.mp@parliament.uk.