Latest news with #KimLeadbeater
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Second Lib Dem MP withdraws support for England and Wales assisted dying bill
A second Liberal Democrat MP has said they have changed their mind over the assisted dying bill and will vote against it at the next Commons stage, in another sign of a wider, if so far slight, ebbing away of support for the measure. In an email to constituents, Brian Mathew, the Melksham and Devizes MP, said that while he had backed the bill at its second reading vote, in April, scrutiny of the plans had left 'several concerns I feel have been inadequately answered'. His announcement follows comments last week by Steve Darling, the Torbay MP who is also the Lib Democrat work and pensions spokesperson. Darling said that while he had backed the bill in April he was now 'marginally against' it, but had not yet decided whether he would vote against it or abstain. About eight other MPs who either supported the private member's bill, led by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, at its second reading or did not vote have said they will now oppose it. However, at least two who abstained in April are now supporters, while the Runcorn and Helsby byelection earlier in May resulted in a Labour MP who opposed the plan replaced by a Reform UK one who backs it. Given the second reading of the bill was passed with a majority of 55, the numbers thus far indicate it should also get through the third reading, scheduled for 20 June. A week before, on 13 June, MPs will debate amendments to the bill for a second day. The first day of debates on amendments drawn up during a lengthy committee stage resulted in some changes being agreed, including an opt-out for all healthcare workers from being involved in assisted dying, extending the exemption from just doctors. That debate also featured angry complaints from some MPs opposed to assisted dying after the prominent campaigner Esther Rantzen argued many in their camp were fighting against the changes to the law because of secret religious views. In his message to constituents, Mathew said he had heard 'eloquent and challenging viewpoints' from all sides, and he changed his stance over the bill following the recent weeks of debates. 'I share the concerns of many constituents that individuals facing terminal illness will take the decision based on concerns that they have become a burden upon their family,' he wrote. 'This is a serious concern for me; I worry that in someone's final days, this question will loom heavy when it does not need to.' This was all the more the case, Mathew said, when the palliative care system as it stood was so bad. Speaking ahead of the first day of debates about amendments, Leadbeater warned that if MPs voted down her bill at third reading then 'the conversation ends' on the subject, with dreadful consequences for many terminally ill people. She dismissed the idea that if the bill was defeated, the subject could return as government legislation or a royal commission, noting the long gap between the last time assisted dying was debated in the Commons, in 2015, and her efforts. 'What worries me is, if the bill doesn't pass, the conversation ends, and that would be really dreadful for so many people, for so many reasons,' she said.
Epoch Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Epoch Times
Assisted Suicide Bill Returns to Commons as MPs Remain Divided
Kim Leadbeater's assisted suicide bill is unsafe and does not adequately protect the vulnerable, critics of the proposals said during a debate in the House of Commons. On Friday, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would legalise medical-assisted suicide for terminally-ill adults with less than six months to live, returned to Parliament for the Report Stage, where MPs began to debate and vote on One amendment, which was supported by MPs, would ensure that no member of staff, such as pharmacists and doctors, would be legally obliged to take part in the assisted suicide process. Another would have prevented employees from providing assisted suicide while working for an employer who had opted out of the process. However, this was rejected by MPs, by 243 to 279. Private Members' Bills are only ever debated on Fridays for a maximum of five hours. Given the number of amendments and level of engagement from MPs on the issue, the House was forced to pass a closing motion, ending the debate and scheduling it to continue next month. Bill Is 'Fundamentally Flawed' Opening the debate on Friday morning, Leadbeater said: 'Put simply, if we do not vote to change the law, we are essentially saying that the status quo is acceptable. 'Over recent months, I have heard hundreds of stories from people who have lost loved ones in deeply difficult and traumatic circumstances, which show that that is clearly not the case. Related Stories 3/27/2025 3/13/2025 '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, and then face a police investigation while dealing with their grief and loss.' It is the first time that the bill has returned to the Commons since it passed Second Reading in a vote in November, with a majority of 55. MPs remain divided on whether there should be a change in the law, and their positions do not follow party line, with many MPs from across the political spectrum sharing similar opinions. Those opposed to the bill included Labour's Naz Shah, who sat on the committee reviewing expert evidence and considering amendments. She said that the bill was 'fundamentally flawed' and in its current form could mean patients could bring themselves within eligibility for assisted suicide by refusing to eat or drink, including those with anorexia. Labour's Rachael Maskell cited recent concerns raised by the Royal College of GPs and called the proposals 'unsafe, which is why the professional bodies are speaking out against this bill.' Her comments follow the Royal College of Physicians Others warned that terminally ill people might feel pressured or believe doctors are suggesting assisted suicide, even if the doctors are simply explaining all available options. Terminally ill people, affected families, and campaigners for a change in the law on assisted suicide gather outside the Palace of Westminster ahead of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill's report stage in London, on May 16, 2025. Lucy North/PA Wire Conservative MP Dr. Caroline Johnson said, 'If a doctor tells somebody, or gives any information, about assisted dying, it is quite reasonable for that person to think that either the doctor is suggesting that they should take part in this process, or even they're hinting their death is going to be a dreadful one and trying to be kind to them.' Neurodegenerative Illnesses Among those expressing support for the bill was Liberal Democrat Liz Jarvis, who paid tribute to Leadbeater's work on the proposals, saying, 'As other members have said, the decision before us is fundamentally about whether we believe in an individual's right to have choice at the end of their life.' Jarvis backs an amendment which would extend the minimum life expectancy for eligibility from six months to 12 months for those with neurodegenerative illnesses. She said: 'Palliative care can provide incredible support and I'm very glad that this debate has reopened the national conversation about issues of funding for palliative care, however, as I know from my personal experience with my mum who died last March after a seven-year struggle with Alzheimer's, palliative care can sometimes only go so far. 'Amendment four recognises that those with neurodegenerative illnesses deserve the same compassion, control, and dignity at the end of their lives as others do, and by extending the timeframe to 12 months they will be given more control over their ultimate decision.' The Report Stage will continue on June 13, when MPs will hear further amendments for the bill. Once the Report Stage is complete, the bill will face its Third Reading, when MPs will vote for or against the bill as a whole. If passed in the Commons at Third Reading, the bill will go to the House of Lords for scrutiny before gaining Royal Assent and becoming law. What would follow is an implementation period of a maximum of four years, meaning it might not be until 2029 that assisted suicide will be offered. PA Media contributed to this report.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Cabinet minister breaks ranks to condemn assisted dying legislation - warning chaotic process means it hasn't been properly scrutinised
A senior Cabinet minister has warned that assisted dying laws are being rushed through Parliament with too little time for proper scrutiny. Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, said there was a 'curtailed' debate in the House of Commons over what would be 'such wide societal change'. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill aims to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales - with less than six months to live - to legally end their lives. MPs continued their scrutiny of the legislation - a private members' bill being spearheaded by Labour 's Kim Leadbeater - earlier this month during an almost five-hour debate in the Commons. This saw critics claim the Bill does not include enough protections and was being hurried through Parliament. Ms Mahmood, an opponent of the legislation, has now added her voice to those criticisms ahead of a planned further debate on the Bill next month. This is despite Cabinet ministers having previously been warned to steer clear of public debate on the issue, as the Government attempts to maintain a neutral stance. The Justice Secretary said the process had 'shown the inadequacies' of using a private members' bill to bring forward assisted dying laws. 'My views [on assisted dying] are well known,' Ms Mahmood said when speaking to The Times last week. 'They haven't changed between second reading and the debate we had last Friday and what will happen when we get to third reading. 'I do think that this process has shown the inadequacies of private members' bills as a vehicle for such wide societal change. 'I know they have worked in the past. I can see why campaigning backbench MPs will think, 'If we were able to do this for abortion for example a few decades ago we can use the same mechanism now'. 'But there are huge implications here and the debate that we're having is curtailed, it is short. We saw that last Friday. I don't think it's the right thing to do.' Last year, Labour peer Charlie Falconer sparked fury by claiming ministers should not 'impose' their religious beliefs on others over assisted dying. He hit out after Ms Mahmood, the first Muslim to become Lord Chancellor, said she would vote against Ms Leadbeater's Bill ahead of its first reading in the Commons in November. Lord Falconer said there were 'religious and spiritual reasons' for Ms Mahmood's opposition to the Bill. But his intervention prompted an angry backlash among Ms Mahmood's fellow MPs, as well as from religious leaders. The Bill's current stage – known as report stage – will continue on June 13, when further debate will take place in the Commons. If time allows on that day it is possible a third reading could take place, giving MPs another vote to either approve or reject the overall Bill and decide whether to send it on to the House of Lords.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Changes to assisted dying bill mean 'no one is obliged to take part in process'
MPs voted to insert a new clause into the Assisted Dying Bill on Friday to say that 'no person', including social care workers and pharmacists, is obliged to take part in assisted dying and can now opt out. The Assisted Dying Bill will allow terminally ill adults, expected to die within six months, to seek help to end their lives. While the legislation passed its first stage in the House of Commons last November, the bill has been subject to amendments and is no longer the same. The clause 10 amendment was put forward by the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill's sponsor the Labour MP for Spen Valley, Kim Leadbeater. The original bill stated that no registered medical practitioner or other health professional would be under an obligation to help in the assisted dying process and would not be discriminated against if they did not want to assist. READ MORE: All you need to know as the assisted dying Bill returned to Parliament | News and Star Under the clause 10 amendment, this has been expanded to say that there is no obligation on anyone to assist in the process, providing protections to any staff who may be involved. MPs ran out of time to vote on other changes so further debate and voting will continue on June 13. Carlisle MP, Julie Minns voted against the amendment and has voiced her opposition to the bill.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
SARAH VINE: The rules on assisted dying and abortion aren't perfect. But no one has come up with anything better
Death, it seems, is a live topic in Westminster. On the one hand we have Kim Leadbeater's ill-thought-out and chaotic Assisted Dying Bill; on the other Stella Creasy's newest attempt to reform abortion laws so that women like Nicola Packer, who took pills while 26 weeks pregnant resulting in the death of the foetus, cannot be prosecuted. They say politics is a deadly business, but this is taking it to a whole new level. It all comes down to 'human rights' of course.
