Ex MP says parliament should "have no confidence" in Bill as High Court judge clause scrapped

A former MP has urged parliamentarians to oppose Westminster assisted suicide legislation, citing developments at the committee stage.

CARE's Caroline Ansell has spoken out after a vote to scrap a requirement for a High Court judge to approve assisted suicide applications.

It comes after MPs examining the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill rejected amendments aimed at protecting vulnerable people.

These include amendments to prevent people accessing assisted death if they feel like a burden, are depressed, or have experienced “undue influence”.

An amendment to protect people with Down’s syndrome, and an amendment to make it illegal for doctors to raise assisted suicide with under-18s.

And amendments to protect people who may have pre-existing suicidal risk factors from getting help to die by an overdose of drugs.

Ms Ansell, a former Conservative MP who is CARE's Director of Advocacy and Policy, commented:

“As a former MP, I have felt deeply uneasy whilst following committee scrutiny of the Bill. A series of amendments designed to safeguard vulnerable Britons have been voted down. Now the High Court provision has been removed from the bill in favour of widely criticised, unworkable panels.

“Amendments voted down at committee were designed to protect disabled people, people with anorexia, people who have a history of suicidal thinking, and children. Organisations representing these groups understandably feel like their voices aren’t being heard by those seeking to rush through this legislation.

“MPs across the House expressed concern about the potential implications of assisted suicide last year – including those who backed the Bill at second reading. They believed that further scrutiny would see the concerns they and their constituents have addressed. They have not been.

“MPs should have no confidence in this Bill when it comes to third reading. It has not been given the robust scrutiny that all legislation requires – particularly a proposal of this gravity. Parliament should vote it down.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Caroline Ansell was the Conservative MP for Eastbourne between 2015-17 and 2019-24.

Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) is a social policy charity, bringing Christian insight to the policies and laws that affect our lives.

Contact us: press@care.org.uk