Final vote looms on Assisted Suicide

A final vote on the assisted dying bill has been delayed until at least 20 June.

Pro-assisted dying MP Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) accused other parliamentarians of “deliberately hanging about in the lobbies to delay the process” as the latest day of debate closed.

Ahead of the second day of the report stage, more MPs announced they were no longer in favour of the bill, but two MPs (Chris Bryant and Ellie Reeves) have reportedly switched in favour.

Several proposed amendments that would have added safeguards to the legislation were rejected by MPs. They narrowly voted down an amendment preventing doctors from pre-emptively raising assisted dying with an adult patient.

However, they agreed an amendment that means doctors would not be allowed to raise it with a patient under 18.

MPs also rejected an amendment prohibiting businesses from advertising their services for assisted dying. Paul Waugh (Labour), who tabled the amendment, said conversations about assisted dying should be in person with their doctor, and “not be prompted by a TV advert or something seen on a bus”.

After the debate, CARE’s advocacy and policy director Caroline Ansell called the bill “redeemably flawed in principle and in detail.”