Labour MPs criticise Kim Leadbeater and the assisted suicide bill

Four Labour MPs have emailed their parliamentary colleagues with a stinging rebuke of Kim Leadbeater, the sponsor of the proposed assisted suicide bill.

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 29 November by 330-275. The legislation would make it legal for adults in England and Wales with a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less to live the right to choose an assisted suicide.

At the time of the vote, many MPs said they were voting for the legislation so it could receive further scrutiny, with the implication being they might withdraw their support at a later stage.

Since Second Reading, the legislation has been with a Public Bills Committee who have been receiving evidence from experts.

In the email, the group of Labour MPs highlighted Ms Leadbeater's recent social media posts in which she highlighted key moments of evidence given to the committee.

Ms Leadbeater has come under increasing scrutiny and criticism over the work of the committee which is seen by some as biased both in composition and in terms of the voices they are taking evidence from.

In their email to colleagues, the four Labour MPs said that committee's evidence was "weighted towards voices that were known to be supportive of the bill."

According to sources, even pro-assisted suicide MPs from across the House are privately raising concerns about the number of colleagues reconsidering support for the bill.

At least five Tory MPs who voted for the bill at second reading are thought to be likely to withdraw their support.

More than 200 amendments have been tabled to the bill and hundreds more are expected over the weekend.

Some pro-assisted suicide MPs have already tried to weaken one of the core safeguards in the bill by swapping out the role of a High Court Judge for a 'panel' of experts.

This week the shadow leader of the Commons, Jesse Norman criticised the procedure of the committee examining the bill, saying it "left a host of important questions entirely untouched."

Next week, the legislation will receive line by line scrutiny, with Report Stage and Third Reading (when all MPs will decide whether to send the Bill to the Lords or not) expected at the end of April.