The Labour MP trying to legalise assisted dying is “very open” to amending her plans, while a Cabinet minister said MPs are “right to ask questions”.
Kim Leadbeater said she is “very aware that MPs have legitimate questions and concerns” about what assisted dying would actually look like in practice. Her proposals to allow a terminally ill person with less than six months to live to end their lives passed a major hurdle in the Commons last week.
But a group of nervy MPs who voted in favour this weekend said they could withdraw support when they vote on the bill again at a later date. Cabinet minister Pat McFadden, who voted in favour, said on Sunday we must consider the legislation carefully as he admitted he thinks the Bill “has a long way to go”.
“It’s right to ask questions because it’s a big issue,” he said. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster also suggested people might have to pay into a potential assisted dying system.
(
Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publis)
Asked if they would, he said: “Look, I think all that still has to be considered. As you know, people currently have to pay for this themselves if they go to Switzerland.
“So all those questions of costs, safeguards, all the issues that have been raised have to be considered during the committee stage, the clause by clause examination of the bill. And that’s the right way to do it because it’s a huge change. You could see that on the faces of the MPs who are voting for it or against it on Friday.”
He said the Bill will go into committee stage for the next four months or so before later coming back to the Commons for a vote.
Concerns have been raised among MPs about safeguards being too weak as well as the risk of coercion. Others said they worried that doctors could raise the option of assisted dying to a terminally ill person which could influence their decision. Cabinet ministers have reportedly warned that moves to legalise assisted dying will put pressure on the justice system and the NHS.
Liberal Democrat Layla Moran said on Saturday that while she voted for it, concerns remained about existing palliative care provision in the UK. “I think all of us want this to be a good Bill,” she said. “I would hope that colleagues across the House, especially those who voted for it, reserve the right to vote no at further stages.”
Just 28 MPs would have to change their mind for the legislation to fail. On Friday 330 MPs voted in favour of the Terminally ill adults (end of life) bill at its second reading and 275 MPs voted against, giving a majority of 55.
Assisted dying is currently against the law in England and Wales, carrying a maximum jail sentence of 14 years. If assisted dying is legalised, each case would be subject to a number of safeguards, including the approval of two doctors and a High Court judge.
A spokesman for Kim Leadbeater told the Mirror: “There will be plenty of opportunity for MPs to air those concerns and Kim is very open to amendments that would make the safeguards stronger and would clarify exactly how assisted dying would be offered as a choice to the terminally ill.
“Some of those questions only government can answer which is why it is so important that ministers and departments will now be in ‘make it work’ mode. So those MPs who said in the debate that there wouldn’t be effective scrutiny or the possibility for substantive amendments should be reassured.”