MPs are primed to start debating the assisted dying bill on Friday morning in the House of Commons, as the politician who brought forward the legislation admitted the vote would be “close”.
The private members bill from Labour MP Kim Leadbeater will be the subject of a five-hour debate starting at 9.30am on Friday.
Ms Leadbeater told BBC Breakfast earlier this week that she thought the vote would be “very close” and that the proposed legislation would receive “hours and hours” of scrutiny.
Former prime ministers Gordon Brown, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson and Baroness Theresa May have all come out against the bill, but David Cameron has backed the move to legalise assisted dying.
At a press conference to discuss today’s migration figures Sir Keir Starmer said the vote was “genuinely free” for all MPs and that the government would remain neutral.
He said: “I’ve obviously got a huge amount of interest and experience in this having looked at every single case for five years that was ever investigated.”
He added: “I will therefore be casting my vote tomorrow.”
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Majority in favour of assisted dying also concerned about end-of-life care gaps
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Most people in favour of legalising assisted dying also have concerns terminally ill people could see it as their only option because the end-of-life care they need is not available, according to a survey.
Palliative care charity Sue Ryder said it is neutral on the issue of assisted dying, but that its polling indicates fears among people both for and against a new law about what current gaps in end-of-life care could mean for the terminally ill.
The survey of just over 3,000 adults in the UK this month showed just over half (56 per cent) said they were in favour of assisted dying, with 12 per cent against. The rest were either undecided or did not want to say.
Overall 77 per cent said they felt terminally ill people could see assisted dying as their only option because of lack of availability to the end-of-life care they need.
Of this 17 per cent felt most, 38 per cent felt some and 22 per cent felt a few terminally ill people would see it as their only option due to lack of access to the right care.
‘My husband was starving and in pain – he deserved a dignified death’
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I couldn’t grieve my mum because she had to end her life abroad – the assisted dying bill could change that
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I’m an expert in medical ethics – to me, assisted dying is the right idea at the wrong time
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How are MPs expected to vote on assisted dying? This is what we know
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Assisted dying coercion by doctors ‘a significant threat’, warns top consultant
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Editorial: This is no time to rush through a decision on assisted dying
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What is in the new assisted dying Bill MPs are considering?
Thursday 28 November 2024 23:00
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MPs primed to debate assisted dying bill
Thursday 28 November 2024 22:00
Alexander Butler
MPs are primed to start debating the assisted dying bill tomorrow morning in the House of Commons, as the politician who brought forward the legislation admitted the vote would be “close”.
The private members bill from Labour MP Kim Leadbeater will be the subject of a five-hour debate starting at 9.30am on Friday.
Ms Leadbeater told BBC Breakfast earlier this week that she thought the vote would be “very close” and that the proposed legislation would receive “hours and hours” of scrutiny.