The Assisted Suicide Bill is "shrouded in chaos” and has been delayed by three weeks amid claims that it is unfit for purpose. Sponsor Kim Leadbeater has come under renewed fire after delaying the next stage of the controversial and dangerous legislation.
Leadbeater has written to all 650 MPs saying the next stage of the debate, Report Stage, will now take place on 16 May rather than 25 April. On 2 April, she rejected calls to delay the vote, with Labour backbenchers concerned voters would be put off by “heated and acrimonious” disagreement between Labour MPs so close to local elections on 1 May. A week later, Leadbeater changed her mind, announcing the delay the day before the start of Easter recess.
The letter from the Bill sponsor has led to accusations that the Bill is “shrouded in chaos” and disorganised. Conservative MP John Lamont said “This Bill continues to be shrouded in chaos. It’s becoming beyond a joke”.
“Last week, I thought the decisive vote would be later this month. It’s now looking like it will be well into June”.
Explaining the reasons for the delay, Leadbeater wrote in her letter “it is now sensible to allow all MPs a few more weeks for their own consideration”, but critics were quick to point out that, during Committee Stage, Leadbeater pushed for sessions to continue until late. At the time, her team explained that the late sessions were necessary in order to be complete by the initial deadline of 25 April.
Dr Rajiv Shah, a former Government advisor, condemned the change as “chaos”, posting on X “Kim Leadbeater pushed for the Committee to sit well into the evening (8pm, 10pm and even past midnight) rather than allow additional days. This was all done because of the need to meet the 25th April deadline. In the end she wasn’t ready for it. Chaos”.