First MPs change stance on support for assisted dying

MPs who previously supported the assisted dying bill have announced that they will change their vote after a major safeguard was ditched from the proposed legislation. It comes as Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the historic bill, yesterday announced her intention to get rid of the muchvaunted safeguard of a High Court judge having the final say in court over an application.

- DAVID MADDOX

Ms Leadbeater now wants to replace that stage with a commission made up of psychiatrists and social workers who would be involved in approving applications. The MP for Batley and Spen denied that she was watering down the safeguard, but the dramatic move has already changed the perspective of some MPs.

Reform's Rupert Lowe had already indicated that he would be voting against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at third reading, having been unconvinced by the committee-stage scrutiny of the bill after initially voting in favour. Now his party colleague Lee Anderson has joined him in opposing the legislation.

Mr Anderson told The Independent: "I support assisted dying but this bill becomes less credible by the day. It looks like it's being forced through at any cost, therefore I fail to see how I can support this bill at third reading."

Liberal Democrat grandee Alistair Carmichael had also backed the bill at second reading, but is now rethinking his support.

An attempt to safeguard the bill further by raising the threshold of the Mental Capacity Act was also rejected by a majority of the committee as the 23 MPs went through the bill line by line. Meanwhile, The Independent understands that a further 140 MPs who voted in favour are now in play to change their votes. The bill passed the second-reading stage with a majority of 55, and only 28 would need to change their minds for it to fail.