MPs today voted in favour of an assisted dying law despite dark warnings it would lead to a ‘state suicide service’ – but ‘thrilled’ supporters were celebrating an historic result.

After five hours of emotionally-charged debate, the House of Commons approved the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 330 votes to 275, majority 55.

PM Sir Keir Starmer voted for the Bill to continue its progress through Parliament. But, in a sign of Cabinet divisions over the issue, a string of Labour ministers opposed the legislation.

These included Deputy PM Angela Rayner, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

• Follow the latest updates and reaction from the historic assisted dying vote in Parliament in our MailOnline live blog

Following MPs’ backing for the Bill – in their first vote on assisted dying since 2015, when the Commons previously opposed a law change – experts questioned how the NHS would cope.

They said it was still unclear whether assisted dying would be fully publicly funded, or how it would sit alongside financially-struggling social care or hospice care services.

But Dame Esther Rantzen, the veteran broadcaster and Childline founder, was among those overjoyed at the Commons result.

The 84-year-old, who is terminally ill and who has repeatedly called for a change in the ‘cruel’ current law, said she was ‘absolutely thrilled’ with the outcome in the Commons.

If it completes its passage into law, the Bill will allow terminally ill and mentally competent adults – with less than six months to live – to seek an assisted death in England and Wales with the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge.

A five-hour debate in the Commons before this afternoon’s vote on the Bill – which was introduced to Parliament by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater – saw MPs make impassioned arguments on both sides.

Supporters said they wanted to offer ‘choice’ to those in ‘excruciating agony’, but opponents warned against implementing a ‘state suicide service’ for terminally ill people.

MPs of all parties were given a ‘free vote’ – meaning they did not have to vote along party lines – and the Government took a neutral stance on the Bill.

The House of Commons approved the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by 330 votes to 275, majority 55, to continue its progress through Parliament

Today was the first time MPs had voted on the issue of assisted dying since 2015. MPs of all parties were given a ‘free vote’ and the Government took a neutral stance on the Bill

In total, 235 Labour MPs supported the Bill alongside 23 Tories, 61 Liberal Democrats, and three Reform UK MPs

Dame Esther Rantzen, the broadcaster and Childline founder who is terminally ill, has been a high-profile voice in the assisted dying conversation for the past year

Activists supporting the Dignity in Dying campaign group protest on Parliament Square ahead of today’s vote

Actress and campaigner Liz Carr joined campaigners opposing the Bill outside Parliament. She said: ‘As disabled people, there’s a really fine line between terminal illness and disability’

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater (centre) is joined by campaigner and cancer sufferer Sophie Blake (left) and Rebecca Wilcox (daughter of Esther Rantzen (far right) after the result in Parliament