Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the push to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults, is urging MPs to consider the families of those affected by “harrowing deaths” when debating her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. The Bill will be debated and voted on by MPs on Friday, with Leadbeater expecting the vote to be “very close.”
Opposition to the Bill has come from high-profile figures, including former Conservative Prime Ministers Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, and Theresa May, along with former Labour PM Gordon Brown. In addition, six MPs have tabled a “wrecking amendment” aimed at blocking the Bill’s debate, although this is unlikely to progress.
Leadbeater has criticized the amendment, stating that it is a delay tactic and emphasizing that the public wants the debate to happen. She highlighted that even if MPs approve the Bill in principle on Friday, it will undergo extensive scrutiny over the next six months, with ample time for detailed examination. She also stressed that society’s views on death and dying have shifted over the past decade, and it is crucial to address the suffering of terminally ill people and their families. Leadbeater pointed out that many people are forced to go abroad for assisted deaths if they can afford it, and some suffer prolonged, traumatic deaths that could be avoided with the option of assisted dying.
The government’s approach to the Bill is that it is a conscience issue, meaning MPs are free to vote according to their personal beliefs, rather than following party lines. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has previously supported assisted dying, has not stated how he will vote. His Cabinet has been instructed not to campaign in the debate, but several ministers, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, are against the proposal.
The Bill has sparked significant debate about the ethics of assisted dying, with proponents arguing that it includes strict safeguards to prevent coercion and would allow terminally ill people to choose how they die, potentially alleviating unnecessary suffering. However, opponents, including the former prime ministers, warn that it could pressure vulnerable individuals to end their lives prematurely. Truss has stated that “the judicial system should be protecting lives, not ending them,” and that it could lead to “appalling pressure” on vulnerable people.
While the three former Conservative leaders do not have a vote in the House of Commons, they could influence the debate in the House of Lords, where Baroness May, a member of the House of Lords, will have a say if the Bill progresses.
Gordon Brown, who lost his daughter to illness, has also voiced his opposition, arguing that the focus should be on improving palliative care rather than legalizing assisted dying. He called for a commission to explore better end-of-life care options.
As the vote approaches, the future of the Bill remains uncertain, with a divided Parliament and significant public and political debate surrounding the issue.