The Falkland Islands has become the first overseas British territory to vote in support of assisted dying.

Politicians passed a motion that terminally ill residents should have the right to end their life, subject to proper safeguards.

The islands’ Legislative Assembly also voted to consider changing laws if the UK first did the same.

Both motions passed by a majority of four votes to three, with one abstention.

Although laws are not changing on the South Atlantic islands, campaigners hope the show of support will lead the way for other areas.

The assembly chair will write to the Prime Minister to say if the UK enacts legislation allowing people to end their lives legally, the Falkland Islands would consider following suit.

The news follows a shock defeat on a bill legalising assisted dying in Guernsey (
Image:
Getty)

The news follows a shock defeat on a bill legalising assisted dying in Guernsey.

Proposals were rejected by 24 votes to 16 after three days of debate on the Channel island in May.

However pro-assisted dying campaigners say the vote acted as ‘driving force for change’ - inspiring motions in the Falklands and ramping up debate in Jersey.

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: “The Falkland Islands have today been shown to be a compassionate, sensible and progressive society which cares deeply about its terminally ill citizens and rightly feels that they deserve better.”

A Mirror poll last month found three out of four Britons would support a change in the law to allow assisted dying.

Assisted dying is currently illegal in the UK (
Image:
REUTERS)

Three quarters want to give terminally ill people with six months to live the right to decide when they die.

Assisted dying is currently illegal in the UK, forcing a Briton to fly to a suicide clinic in Switzerland once every eight days to end their life.

But those opposed say any relaxation of the law would put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives out of fear of being a burden.

A spokesman for Care Not Killing said: “Once you cross the rubicon of saying ‘because you are terminally ill your life is less worth living’ there is no going back.”