Deputy PM set to vote against Assisted Dying Bill

Care Not Killing writes: There are now less than two weeks until Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is considered by the House of Commons, and you will doubtless have seen a ratcheting up of debate since the text of the Bill was finally published late Monday night.

You will also have seen indications of growing unease among MPs: first and foremost, this has been informed by constituents like you emailing and writing to them, meeting with them, and attending constituency events: thank you so much for all that you are doing, and for feeding back their replies - please keep those coming.

Last night, it was reported that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will not support the Bill. She joins Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms and Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey.

The text of the bill has failed to reassure key stakeholders in this debate. (If you are in contact with your MP in the next few days, do flag up the following items to them.)

The morning after the Bill's publication, Disability Rights UK came out against the Bill, saying in a statement:

'Our focus as a society should be to ensure that all citizens live well. This is not the case at present. Disabled people and those with health conditions find ourselves battling to get NHS treatments, receiving inadequate care and support and having limited access to palliative care.'

'Assistance to die should not be easier to access than assistance to live. Parliament and Government should not allow assisted dying when political choices undermine our lives, and rights, every day… the proposed change in the law poses a danger to Disabled people.'

Care Not Killing is a UK-based alliance bringing together over 40 organisations - human rights and disability rights organisations, health care and palliative care groups, faith-based organisations groups - and thousands of concerned individuals. The campaign has three key aims:

to promote more and better palliative care;
to ensure that existing laws against euthanasia and assisted suicide are not weakened or repealed;
to inform public opinion further against any weakening of the law.

For more information see Care Not Killing: www.carenotkilling.org.uk/

If you would like to talk with someone about issues raised in this article, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day. Call free on 116 123 or visit: www.samaritans.org