Labour MPs warn ‘rushed’ assisted dying bill will put off voters
LABOUR MPs warn the controversial assisted dying bill will put off voters at the next General Election.
They are worried the legislation is being rushed and key safeguards have been removed.
And ministers will be appointing a death tsar to oversee changes just as voters return to the ballot box.
Blair McDougall said it risks sending a “confusing signal” when they want to talk about Labour’s NHS improvements.
Labour has singled out the health service as a key battleground in the fight against Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
Mr McDougall, MP for East Renfrewshire, said: “A concern I have picked up from MPs is a worry that the Government – even though they’ve been neutral on the issue – will be appointing officials responsible for death at the point we are fighting an election on whether the NHS is saving lives.
“It risks being an unhelpful story at a time when we are trying to tell a story about an NHS which is fit for saving peoples lives – thanks to the investment and reform we’ve put in.”
Labour MP Andrew Pakes added: “I was elected to improve the NHS, tackle the cost of living crisis and make life easier for people living in my constituency.
“My concern is that this bill has already taken up too much parliamentary time and become a distraction from many of the issues facing people.”
Both MPs called for the bill to be ditched.
“In many ways I think it’s become worse,” Mr McDougall added.
“You’re seeing some of the safeguards eroded, we’re seeing confirmation that things like anorexia would be within it and we’re seeing fundamentals of the NHS being changed around this.”
Peterborough MP Mr Pakes added: “I’m worried that the bill is being watered down to a level that we are trying to make it easy for people to access this service.
“There is a fundamental difference between people having the right to take their lives and making it as easy as ordering something on Amazon.”
The bill, led by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater, returns to the Commons this Friday when MPs will debate and likely vote on amendments.
The next major vote on the whole bill is tipped for mid-June.
In a letter to MPs on Friday, Ms Leadbeater said she listened very carefully to the views of colleagues and the Bill had been “strengthened significantly”.