Today, on 29 November, Westminster MPs voted 330 to 275 in favour of Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. SPUC has called the result a “disappointing” decision that “puts the lives of vulnerable citizens at risk”.

MPs voted in favour of Labour MP Leadbeater’s Bill at its second reading. The Bill will now move on to the committee and report stages, but not before April. After more scrutiny and potential amendments, it will be subject to another Commons vote at a third reading. If it is passed, it will be voted on by the House of Lords.

The Leadbeater Bill would legalise assisted suicide for terminally ill adults over 18 who have six months to live. SPUC and other groups have listed various dangers and flaws in the Bill, and campaigned hard against it.

Inside the Commons, MPs heard many compelling arguments against the Bill. Mary Kelly Foy MP pointed out that her daughter, who was born with severe disabilities, was given just six months to live from birth. “She lived for 27 years.” 

Danny Kruger, a Conservative MP, spoke powerfully on behalf of “people who lack agency” and are threatened by the Bill. “What are the safeguards for them”, he asked. “I will tell you. We are the safeguard... This parliament... yet we stand on the brink of abandoning that role… 

“The idea that our individual worth lies in our utility, valuable only for so long as we are useful… [is] a worse world with a very different idea of human value.”

Lib Dem MP Tim Farron said that his opposition to the Bill was based on “compassion”. He warned that the proposed law could lead to “coercion” and that there are no safeguards against it.

Labour MP Diane Abbott criticised the role of judges as a protective measure. “Far from being a genuine safeguard, the involvement of a judge could just be a rubber stamp”, she said. 

SPUC staff and supporters also attended a large demonstration outside Parliament as the debate took place.

“Dangerous and deeply misguided”

SPUC released a statement following the Commons vote: 

“SPUC is deeply disappointed that Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has moved to the committee stage. Even this initial endorsement by MPs marks a dangerous and deeply misguided step backward for our society, undermining the principles of compassion, care, and the protection of vulnerable lives.

“Any move to legalise assisted suicide opens the door to coercion, abuse, and the wholesale devaluation of life itself – risks that have been well documented in countries where assisted suicide is already legal.

“However, the fight is far from over. There are deep flaws in this Bill, and we are confident that this will become more and more clear as the text is further scrutinised. As this bill progresses, MPs will also have the opportunity to reflect on the grave implications of legalising assisted suicide. We urge them to stand against this dangerous precedent in the next stage and protect the vulnerable lives that will be threatened by this legislation.

“Many MPs courageously recognised the profound dangers of this bill and stood against it. This demonstrates the strength and impact of individuals across the country who lobbied their MPs to oppose this dangerous measure.

“Today’s vote strengthens our resolve to fight harder than ever against this dangerous legislation. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that this law is defeated at its next reading.”

Grave concerns persist 

A vast majority of palliative care doctors opposed the Bill, including The Association for Palliative Medicine (APM) of Great Britain and Ireland. An open letter slammed the Bill as being a “cheaper solution” to real care and medicine. 
Health Secretary Wes Streeting also voiced his grave concerns about the legislation and indicated that he would vote against it. Explaining why, he said: “I do not think that palliative care, end-of-life care in this country is in a condition yet where we are giving people the freedom to choose, without being coerced by the lack of support available.” 

Mr Streeting also warned that, if passed, the Bill would have “resource implications” for the NHS, implying that services such as end of life care would suffer. 

SPUC also campaigned against the Bill. In a massive effort, it lobbied in public and behind the scenes to warn against the dangers of assisted suicide. Written resources, talks, news stories and blogs were also a part of its extensive campaign.