As many of my constituents know, Kim Leadbeater MP’s previous Private Member’s Bill to legalise assisted dying failed to pass both Houses of Parliament by the end of the parliamentary session in April 2026. Hours of debate on the Bill in both the House of Commons and Lords clearly illustrated why this particular legislation would have been unworkable in practice. Reasonable amendments that were tabled by both MPs and Peers to provide additional safeguards, such as legally excluding those with eating disorders and Down’s syndrome, were rejected by the Bill sponsor. I recognise there are strong views on both sides of the debate and that these are heartfelt and very personally held.
I personally was particularly concerned by the previous decision to remove the safeguard of a High Court judge to check each person’s eligibility for an assisted death before granting that right. The decision to delay the implementation of assisted dying powers until at least 2029 also highlighted the unacceptable lack of detailed planning or assessment of the impacts of the Bill’s provision on a range of public services.
It also became clear this Private Member’s Bill and it’s process lacked the confidence of wide spread NHS medical colleges, and there was legitimate concern, including from the then Health Secretary, about the impact on the NHS budget and that any NHS assisted dying service risked diverting resources away from our already underfunded palliative and end of life care services.
Taking all of that into consideration, I am obviously now very concerned that another Labour MP, Lauren Edwards, has chosen to re-introduce the very same Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, after succeeding in the Private Member’s Bill ballot although, sadly, not surprised. The Bill will again be debated in the House of Commons on Friday 11 September.
The new Bill Sponsor has been clear that she is threatening the use of the Parliament Act to drive through the legislation and bypass the concerns of MPs and Peers who want to strengthen the Bill. Making good law that works properly is a very serious, detailed and often time-consuming job which is why bills of such societal consequence as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill do not usually make their way through parliament in the form of a Private Member’s Bill – the preparation and time needed in the House of Commons is simply not available.
This then became the job of the Lords and I was very impressed with the quality and commitment of debates in the House of Lords on this issue on both sides of the argument. I have been clear from the start that a great many amendments to this legislation were needed to make assisted dying provision safe and effective if passed by this process and in this way. I do believe peers had the required experience and expertise to robustly debate and challenge the Bill with the view to making its protections stronger for everyone, especially the vulnerable and ensuring it is a workable proposition. It’s why we have a second chamber - to work with us to shape legislation so it is both viable and deliverable.
It is therefore very troubling that, for the Parliament Act to apply, she has said MPs will not be allowed to amend the Bill in any way. That is despite Kim Leadbeater MP and other supporters acknowledging major and serious shortcomings with the legislation last time around. I do hope Labour MPs and other supporters who were banking on the other House ‘fixing’ this indelibly flawed Bill now come to their senses and vote against it. Decisively.
As you will recall, MPs voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at third reading by a very slim majority of 23 votes. I voted against the Bill at the time because I have sincere and grave concerns about its workability, the pressure it will place on the NHS capacity and workforce, the lack of sufficient safeguards, and the change it will bring about in the relationship between our medical profession and their vulnerable patients. I also fundamentally disagree that such a large and impactful bill and divisive should go through as a Private Member’s Bill process. We have better mechanisms and it’s right we look at them.
As I wrote in my last statement, I also strongly feel we can only make this change if our care sector, hospice, and palliative care is looked at properly first and improved so a real choice is available to people when they are at their most vulnerable. In my view, time and money spent on palliative care, our wider care sector and community care is time and money well spent. Only when this sector is hugely improved and able to deliver care to all those who want it, do I believe legislation like this bill can truly work in the way those pushing for change actually envision it working. I was interested to see the new Labour Prime Minister endorsing this view in his recent media outings. We in the Conservative Party have reached across the divide to try to assist on this and we will put the national interest and greater good to the fore.
So in that respect, I am very grateful this campaign has led to an increased awareness of, and public discourse about, palliative and end-of-life care because no one wants their loved ones to suffer at the end of their life and I do appreciate we all are doing what we believe is best to achieve that end.
However, and to be perfectly frank, I do believe this current Government should be laser focused on sorting out the numerous and very real domestic and economic issues, as well as the geopolitical crises and international dangers, that are facing the country, not arguing amongst themselves over deeply divisive and flawed, and somewhat activist-led private members legislation like this and in this way. I will of course continue to listen to the arguments carefully, track the process and progress of the bill and keep you updated.
You may be interested in reading my last statement which discusses the concerns some people have raised around potential filibustering in the House of Lords - you can access it here: Mims Davies MP Statement on Assisted Dying Bill | Mims Davies
