Assisted dying bill - latest: Historic vote is ‘beginning not the end’ of debate, says MP Kim Leadbeater
A number of MPs rose during Kim Leadbeater’s opening speech to raise their concerns about her Bill
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has said the assisted dying bill is not about “choosing between life and death”, but rather giving people the autonomy to choose how and when they die.
A historic five-hour debate kickstarted at 9:30am on Friday with the house of commons chamber full of MPs on both sides.
Ms Leadbeater began with some harrowing cases of people who wanted to end their lives while suffering dreadful pain.
There will be many more such examples on both sides of the debate today. The early exchanges made it clear that the issue of coercion could be decisive.
The Independent analysed public statements from all 650 MPs, in addition to news reports and other available information, to find which MPs will likely vote for or against the assisted dying bill this week.
The bill is open to a “free vote”, meaning that the party whips will not dictate whether to support or oppose the bill. Our analysis has found that at least 90 MPs are likely to vote in favour of the bill, while at least 83 are likely to vote against it.
Warning: this article contains information that people might find distressing, including accounts of human suffering.
Where are the public on assisted dying?
Kim Leadbeater noted in her opening speech that 75 per cent of the public support the principle of assisted dying. It is true that this result has been repeated in most polls on the subject as the debate has drawn nearer.
However, there are other polling results which suggest that the public also have concerns.
Results by Delta polling published today reveal that 70 per cent say the NHS is insufficiently funded to provide pain relief or palliative care for people at the end of their lives and 73 per cent believe this would improve end of life experiences if palliative care was fully funded.
It reflects other polling used by former prime minister Gordon Brown last week who argued that a commission into palliative care is required before a decision on assisted dying is taken.
On the issue of coercion, Delta found 70 per cent fear that disabled people could be impacted to end their life, even if they don’t want to and 66 per cent of people are worried about terminally ill people being pressured by others requesting an assisted death. We need to make sure disabled people’s concerns are fully explored.
But there are other issues which arise and could affect decisions on whether people decide to end their own lives.
Delta found that 83 per cent are worried about a long and painful death; 77 per cent are worried about losing dignity and independence; 77 per cent are worried about unsupervised suicide; 78 per cent are worried about financial hardship; and 63 per cent are worried about the cost to the NHS.
Today is one of those historic moments MPs do not want to miss
There are very few Fridays in Parliament where you even see an MP in the Commons chamber.
Today’s assisted dying bill debate is one of those historic moments almost all MPs do not want to avoid.
As Labour MP Kim Leadbeater opens the debate for her bill, the chamber is full of MPs on both sides of the chamber.
It is still not clear which way MPs will go but Ms Leadbeater has begun with some harrowing cases of people who wanted to end their lives while suffering dreadful pain.
There will be many more such examples on both sides of the debate today. The early exchanges make it clear that the issue of coercion could be decisive. It will fall to the undecided MPs to see if the way we view the relationship between the NHS and people changes forever.
Kim Leadbeater: Too many people are experiencing ‘human suffering’ as a result of the ‘status quo'
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has told MPs about a former police officer who felt he could not visit the Swiss Dignitas clinic with his mother.
The MP for Spen Valley told the Commons: “Former police officer James waved his mum off as she embarked on her final trip to Dignitas. She had terminal vasculitis.
“James desperately wanted to accompany his mum and hold her hand during her final moments, but he knew because of his job as a police officer it was just not possible – indeed, she insisted he must not go with her. So she went alone. No one to hold her hand, no proper goodbye or funeral.
“These are just a few examples of the heartbreaking reality and human suffering which far too many people are experiencing as a result of the status quo. And the public know this.”
Ms Leadbeater later said: “Let’s be clear, we are not talking about a choice between life or death, we are talking about giving dying people a choice of how to die.”
Kim Leadbeater recounts stories from members of the public to packed chamber
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater recounted stories she had been told by members of the public.
The Spen Valley MP told the Commons: “Warwick was married to his wife Ann for nearly 40 years. She had terminal peritoneal cancer, which meant she couldn’t breathe properly. She spent four days gasping and choking, remaining awake throughout despite being given the maximum dose of sedatives, and eventually died of suffocation.
“She had begged Warwick to end her life, but as he stood over her with a pillow, he could not do what she asked as he didn’t want that to be her final memory of him.
“Ann had excellent palliative care but it simply could not ease her suffering.
“Tim fell in love at first sight when he met his wife Louise – he proposed after just three days. But Louise got cancer twice, and at the end the morphine simply could not control her pain. In desperation she managed to smash a small glass bottle and tried to take her own life, not realising that her toddler daughter had got into bed with her.
“Tim found her, he says ‘you get to a point where you stop praying for a miracle and start praying for mercy’.”
Pictured: Campaign group Dignity in Dying demonstrate outside parliament
Labour’s Kim Leadbeater opens debate
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, the one behind the bill, said the assisted dying Bill will give people “choice, autonomy and dignity” as she opened the debate in the Commons.
The MP for Spen Valley told MPs: “It is a privilege to open the debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – a piece of legislation which would give dying people, under very stringent criteria, choice, autonomy and dignity at the end of their lives.”
She added: “And let me say to colleagues across the House – particularly new colleagues – I know that this is not easy. It certainly hasn’t been easy for me. But if any of us wanted an easy life I’m afraid we are in the wrong place.
“It is our job to address complex issues and make difficult decisions. And I know for many people this is a very difficult decision.
“But our job is also to address the issues that matter to people, and after nearly a decade since this subject was debated on the floor of the House, many would say this debate is long overdue.”
The Speaker has not selected MPs' wrecking amendment
A bid by a group of MPs to force extended debate on the Assisted Dying Bill has failed, with the speaker of the house not selecting their amendment.
Dr Ben Spencer, a Conservative MP, Munira Wilson, a LibDem MP, and Labour’s Anna Dixon co-sponsored a “wrecking amendment” that could have stopped the Bill in its tracks if enough MPs supported it.
The proposed amendment would have halted the debate on the Assisted Dying Bill and forced “sufficient debate” on the issue.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle has not selected the amendment, ending their attempt to stop the Bill.
MPs split over fiercely debated bill
With the monumental assisted dying vote looming, neither camp will quite sit comfortably until the results are in at 2.30pm.
In the weeks since the The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was presented to parliament, campaigners for and against have each had spells of momentum.
After health secretary Wes Streeting and justice secretary Shabana Mahmood came out against the change, the bill looked dead in the water, with fresh-faced MPs looking to senior colleagues for guidance.
But, speaking to MPs on the estate, it is clear the high profile interventions against sparked a decisive uptick in lobbying from those supporting assisted dying.
Of those MPs who have come out in favour of the bill, a significant majority support it. But with hundreds of MPs still sitting on the fence, anything could happen in the voting lobbies.
Dozens of protesters outside parliament as MPs begin debating
Dozens of protesters have gathered outside Parliament on Friday calling on MPs to vote against Kim Leadbeater’s Private Members Bill to legalise assisted dying.
Protesters held signs with “Kill the Bill, not the ill” and “care not killing” as they gathered at Old Palace Yard.
They chanted “assistance to live, not to die”.
One attendee, John Smith, 59, said he was “angry and scared”.
“I’m angry and scared about this assisted suicide Bill if it becomes law,” he said.
“I am concerned that if this Bill comes through it will fundamentally change the relationship between patients and doctors. My good health is dependent upon the relationship I have with a doctor.
“Doctors can now, if this Bill goes through, can actually bring up the idea that maybe assisted suicide is an option for you. I don’t want doctors to be conflicted, I want them to assist me to live.”
Watch live: MPs begin debating on historic assisted dying bill
Watch live as MPs vote on assisted dying bill
Watch live as MPs vote whether or not to legalise assisted dying on Friday (29 November).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments