Labour planned in opposition how to introduce assisted dying via private member's bill

"A spokesperson for Leadbeater said they categorically denied that the MP had any conversations with No 10 or the party leadership before she took up the issue of assisted dying after winning the private member's bill ballot. Keir Starmer has long been a supporter of changing the law, drawing on his experiences as director of public prosecutions. Shortly after the document was circulated internally, the prime minister publicly raised the possibility of a law change via a private member's bill."

"Labour planned while in opposition how to introduce assisted dying via a private member's bill, suggesting that would still allow heavy influence for the government in the process, a leaked document has revealed. The document, seen by the Guardian, proposed a change strikingly similar to the private member's bill put forward eventually by the Labour MP Kim Leadbeater to limit the change in the law to those who are mentally competent, terminally ill and have a prognosis of less than six months left to live."

A leaked internal document showed Labour planned while in opposition to introduce assisted dying via a private member's bill with continued government influence. The proposed change mirrored the private member's bill by Kim Leadbeater, limiting eligibility to mentally competent, terminally ill people with a prognosis of less than six months. The leak raised questions about government involvement and prompted a major House of Lords battle where many opposing peers tabled hundreds of amendments, prompting fears of a filibuster. Ten additional sitting days were assigned for debate, while pro-change supporters held private talks to avoid parliamentary delay. Some Labour figures criticised the approach as shadow policymaking without consultation.

Read at www.theguardian.com