from Right to Life
Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill has received a further blow after reports of “charged nervousness” during a press conference and suggestions that MPs may be ready to vote against the Bill at Third Reading.
Ali Fortescue, political correspondent for Sky News, reported that the “cheerful optimism” on display earlier in the campaign had turned into a “charged nervousness” at a press conference marking the completion of Committee Stage. She said “The message from those around Kim Leadbeater is that all is calm and well”.
“But the mood at the assisted dying campaign’s press conference today is different. The cheerful optimism that marked the last [press conference] has turned to a charged nervousness”.
Fortescue said the nervousness was justified because a number of MPs are feeling “jitters” due to concerns about safeguards and timeframes. Supporters of the assisted suicide Bill “should be nervous. There are jitters among a number of MPs I’ve spoken to who voted for the bill last time but are concerned about safeguards and timeframes”.
Concerns about removal of High Court safeguard
Fortescue suggested that MPs who voted for the Bill at Second Reading may be prepared to vote against at Third Reading, and join Reform’s Lee Anderson and former colleague Rupert Lowe, who publicly announced in February they would be changing their vote.