The London Times of 1st May carried a story headed “Assisted dying bill losing support of MPs”.
The story was based on a survey of MPs’ opinions, conducted by Care Not Killing. This reported that 42% were now against, 36% were still in favour and 13% were undecided. The survey itself is of limited importance. It covered only 103 of the 650 MPs in the House of Commons and, anyway, Care Not Killing is not exactly a neutral pollster. It leads the campaign against Kim Leadbeater’s Bill.
Nonetheless, it may prove to have been an early warning. When the Bill passed its “Second Reading” debate in November 2024, it did so by 330 votes to 275. It is returning for its next big vote in the middle of May and there are other indications that MPs might have shifted slightly against it. Some MPs believe that the “safeguards” have been diluted by the removal of the role of a High Court Judge. Others believe that there are now so many safeguards (and that they have become so complex) that the Bill itself would provide little relief to people in pain at the end of their lives. Some believe that the financing, although much debated, has not been settled.
There is therefore a clear danger that the Bill, whilst not exactly failing, will now pass with a majority so tiny that it will remain a matter of debate and contention even if the Bill continues with its Parliamentary process. It has already been conceded that it will not become operational until 2029. Therefore, unless the issue has been conclusively settled in the immediate future, its possible repeal could well be a contentious manifesto item for candidates at a General Election before then.
