Delay in publishing Leadbeater bill ‘is truly shocking’

Disabled activists have criticised the “truly shocking” failure of an MP to publish a bill that aims to legalise assisted suicide, just three weeks before it is due to be debated – and voted on – by MPs.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s terminally ill adults (end of life) bill will be debated by MPs on 29 November.

But the bill has yet to be published, although it is now due to be released early next week after reports of growing concerns.

Disabled campaigners who have raised serious doubts about the safety of legalisation, say the failure to provide MPs and the public with enough time to analyse the contents of the bill shows a “shocking lack of democratic process”.

Disabled activist and author Ellen Clifford, coordinator of the coalition of UK disabled people’s organisations that monitors implementation of the UN disability convention, said: “The lack of published text is yet further evidence of why MPs must vote against this bill.

“The private members’ bill mechanism gives too little space for appropriate scrutiny and oversight for a matter of this significance.

“I would urge everyone who can to contact their constituency MP and make the case that even if they think they are in favour of legalisation, they cannot let the Leadbeater bill pass.”

Paula Peters, a member of the national steering group of Disabled People Against Cuts, said it was “absolutely reprehensible that Kim Leadbeater’s bill has not been published and no text is available”.

She said: “MPs have no idea what is in the bill. This is a shocking lack of democratic process.

“This is literally life and death to disabled people. It’s terrifying.

“That MPs have no access to a bill they are supposed to debate and vote on is truly shocking.”

Peters called on disabled people to write to their MP about the bill and the “deep concerns” over the long-term impact of legalisation in countries such as Canada, where “medical assistance in dying” was the sixth highest cause of death in 2022.

A spokesperson for Leadbeater said today (Thursday): “The bill will be published early next week, giving MPs the best part of three weeks to study it before the debate on November 29th.”

Opposition to the bill among MPs – or at least to plans by its supporters to rush it through parliament – appears to be growing.

The Guardian reported last week that there was anger among new Labour MPs “about the speed of the bill” and “a strong feeling that the vote should not take place until the government can show significant improvements to the state of the NHS”.

Among senior figures in the government who have raised concerns about the bill and plan to vote against it are health secretary Wes Streeting and justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, both of whom would have key responsibilities for implementing any new law.

Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall and culture secretary Lisa Nandy are both reported to be in favour of the bill.

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