Ex-MP criticises "denial and spin" by assisted suicide Bill supporters

A former MP has criticised "denial and spin" from supporters of Westminster assisted suicide legislation.

At a press conference organised by Bill backers on Wednesday, Kim Leadbeater MP dismissed concerns about improper scrutiny of her Bill, saying MPs had spent "hours and hours" looking at it.

But Caroline Ansell, an ex-MP who is now Director of Advocacy and Policy at CARE, pointed to "serious problems" with the legislation itself and oversight at the Committee stage.

"Denial and spin by Bill supporters are designed to distract from very serious problems - both with the legislation itself, and scrutiny of it during the Committee stage", Ms Ansell said.

"The Committee was heavily weighted towards Bill supporters. It had to examine more than 500 amendments in just a few weeks. And, in a push to get through the process before recess, it required long sittings. A member who requires hearing aids said she was excluded as a result.

"Ms Leadbeater and her allies on the Committee inexplicably rejected amendments to safeguard vulnerable people, including a requirement to prove the absence of coercion beyond reasonable doubt, and five separate amendments backed by a coalition of eating disorder charities.

"An amendment from Leadbeater herself doubled the timeline for implementation, due to the complexity of Bill provisions – including those added very late in the day by Bill supporters. Pledged High Court oversight has been abandoned in favour of unworkable assisted death panels."

Ms Ansell added:

"Ms Leadbeater has claimed that if her Bill falls, the ‘conversation’ about assisted death ends. This is not about having a conversation. This Bill would institute a fundamental, and highly controversial, change to the NHS to allow delivering death to be part of commissioned services.

"We need to have a better conversation about truly life-affirming forms of support for dying people. The UK can do better than assisted suicide.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Caroline Ansell was the Conservative MP for Eastbourne between 2015-17 and 2019-24 and is now Director of Advocacy and Policy at CARE.

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