Senior Labour figures voice concern over assisted dying bill, warning proposals will not have long enough to be fully debated before vote_Nhy
Growing numbers of senior Labour MPs are concerned about whether to vote in favour of legalising assisted dying.
Darren Jones, Rachel Reeves‘s deputy at the Treasury, became the latest senior minister to say he would vote against the legislation – adding to an increasing number of influential voices expressing their worries.
He warned the proposals will not face enough time for debate due to the Bill’s nature, with the draft to be released for scrutiny next week before a debate and first vote a fortnight later.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury joins other notable figures who have voiced similar doubts, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, veteran MP Diane Abbott, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has previously voted against changing the law, while Foreign Secretary David Lammy has also been critical.
The Commons will vote on a Private Member’s Bill (PMB) introduced by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater on November 29.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones has said he would vote against the bill
+8Wes Streeting has said he will use his free vote to oppose the assisted dying law change
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is another Labour frontbencher who could vote againsy the bill
Veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott has also voiced doubts about the bill
The bill was introduced by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater and is a free vote for MPs
High-profile voices for change include Dame Esther Rantzen, while the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and actor and disability campaigner Liz Carr have voiced their opposition.
Pictured: Campaigners protest outside Parliament in Westminster, London, earlier this year
The Prime Minister – who is in favour of changing the law – has made it a free vote, meaning MPs can vote with their conscience.
The matter is likely to polarise Parliament with MPs bringing their own views and those held by their constituents.
Mr Jones said: ‘My view is that a PMB is not the right way to try to introduce a change in law on such a complex issue.
‘I therefore plan to either abstain or vote against the Bill on these grounds.’
