Macclesfield MP David Rutley was among 330 MPs to vote against giving British residents the right to die.

The Commons declined to give a second reading to the Assisted Dying Bill by 330 to 118, firmly rejecting measures which would have handed adults of sound mind and with less than six months to live the right to ask for medical help to die.

The free vote, held on Friday, was the first time since 1997 the Commons had voted on the right to die.

Mr Rutley, who voted against the proposal, said he feared some terminally ill patients could feel pressured into making the decision to relieve any burden on their families.

He said: “I have carefully considered bother sides of the debate and I’ve listened to what Rob Marris had to say. Like the Prime Minister I continue to have concerns about how terminally ill people may feel pressurised into making a decision if they feel that they are, or potentially could be, a burden on others. There are strong arguments on both sides.”

Labour MP Rob Marris introduced the Assisted Dying Bill after coming top of the Private Members’ Bill ballot following the general election.