In historic scenes in the House of Commons on Friday, members voted in favour of passing a bill that would make assisted dying legal in some circumstances – despite the majority support halving to just 23 MPs.
Peers against the law change feel emboldened to scupper the legislation – even though it was supported by MPs – due to the fact it is not a government bill or linked to a Budget and was not in the Labour Party election manifesto.
They said the fact the majority support for the Bill had fallen from 55 to 23 “reflects a lot of the issues” with it, adding that “a lot of peers” have concerns about protections for vulnerable people.
“It would not be unreasonable of them to say that it wasn’t in any party’s manifesto, it was passed with a very narrow majority and it’s not a money bill,” the source said.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the Private Member’s Bill in the Commons, cautioned against the Lords “playing games” with it.
“I would be upset to think that anybody was playing games with such an important and such an emotional issue,” she added.
He said he suspected there was a majority against it in the Lords but added that it was hard to predict due to an influx of new peers in recent months.
Read Next
square POLITICS Big ReadFrom global player to out of Trump’s loop: How Starmer was left on the sidelines
Read More“People will seek to very, very heavily amend it […] and therefore it’ll be quite a difficult passage,” he added. “Given that the Government’s got a very large number of bills still to get through the Lords, is it going to extend a lot of political capital on a bill that has split its own party in the Commons?”
Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally, a former chief nursing officer for England, said instead work is needed to better fund access to “desperately needed palliative care services”.
“Genuine compassion involves accompanying those who need care, especially during sickness, disability and old age,” he said.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Lords plot to scupper historic assisted dying bill )
Also on site :