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Assisted dying bill - latest: MPs to vote on historic legalisation after fierce backlash from campaigners

The private members bill put forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater will be the subject of a five-hour debate starting at 9.30am on Friday

Joe Middleton
Friday 29 November 2024 00:01 GMT
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Esther Rantzen's daughter urges MPs to rethink religious vote on assisted dying bill

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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.”

MPs primed to debate assisted dying bill

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.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater admitted the vote would be close
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater admitted the vote would be close (PA Wire)
Alexander Butler28 November 2024 22:00

What is in the new assisted dying Bill MPs are considering?

What is in the new assisted dying Bill MPs are considering?

Who would be eligible and when could a service be up and running if the law was passed?

Alexander Butler28 November 2024 23:00

Editorial: This is no time to rush through a decision on assisted dying

This is no time to rush through a decision on assisted dying

Editorial: Gordon Brown was wise to suggest that parliament should take its time over such a fundamental issue

Alexander Butler29 November 2024 00:01

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