Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

I wanted to set out my position before the vote on ‘The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life Bill)’ today 29^th of November. 

Assisted Dying is a very sensitive issue, and one which requires Parliament to be at its best, to ensure that we get it right. To that end, Keir Starmer, prior to becoming Prime Minister, made a commitment to holding a ‘free vote’ on this issue whereby MPs are not whipped along party lines.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to contact me regarding my views on assisted dying. As the MP for North West Leicestershire, I have received a huge amount of correspondence from constituents on both sides of this debate. I have taken time to consider my constituents personal accounts and lived experiences, I know how difficult this will have been to share these with me. 

I have also attended various briefings in Parliament to listen to experts on both sides of the debate.  

Ultimately, I am not against assisted dying in principle, if there can be appropriate safeguards put in place.  I believe the terminally ill should have the right to choose how they decide to end their life.  However, we must also ensure that those that are terminally ill are able to make the decision that is right for them without feeling any pressure from their loved ones, whether implicit or explicit.  People deserve dignity in dying and this should include making sure there is good palliative care.   

Having scrutinised the proposals put forward by Kim Leadbeater, it’s clear that great consideration has clearly been given to the safeguards and procedures that this legislation requires.  Although I do have some concerns about some elements of the bill, I will be voting for the Bill to progress at the Second Reading so that Parliament can continue to debate, and potentially amend the proposals.

Voting for the Bill at the Second Reading does not mean that the Bill becomes a Law, there are many stages to go.  I want to see the practical realities of how implementing a Bill of this magnitude will impact on our NHS and Palliative Care, which will be considered at the committee stage of the Bill.

Voting for the Bill at Second Reading also does not mean I will support it in its final stages, but I believe it is important that Parliament and the public are able to continue this debate.

Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact me about this important issue. Please continue to share your views on this with me should the Bill progress.