What's happened
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater is set to introduce a bill on assisted dying in the House of Commons today, marking the first parliamentary vote on the issue in nearly a decade. The debate is scheduled for November 29, with significant public and political interest surrounding the proposed legislation.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater emphasized the importance of autonomy for terminally ill patients, stating, "This is about people who are terminally ill, who just want the autonomy to have the choice to end their lives in a way that they feel more comfortable with." Conversely, The Mirror highlights concerns from campaigners like Liz Carr, who argues that changing the law could endanger vulnerable populations, saying, "Can we safeguard lives and are disabled, older and ill people going to be safe and protected with a change in the law?" This illustrates the deep divide in public opinion and the complexities surrounding the proposed legislation.
How we got here
The assisted dying debate has resurfaced following Dame Esther Rantzen's advocacy, particularly after her diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer. Previous attempts to legalize assisted dying in the UK have failed, with the last significant vote occurring in 2015.
Common question
-
What are the key issues in the UK Parliament's Assisted Dying Debate?
The UK Parliament is set to debate a significant bill on assisted dying, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. This marks the first Commons vote on the issue in nearly a decade, raising crucial questions about the implications for terminally ill patients and the broader societal impact. As the debate unfolds, many are left wondering about the arguments for and against the bill, the key figures involved, and how this legislation compares to past attempts.
More on these topics
-
Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
-
Kim Michele Leadbeater MBE is a British Labour Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen since 2021.
-
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a 96 mile border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and w
-
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey, is a British Crown dependency near the coast of Normandy, France. It is the second-closest of the Channel Islands to France, after Alderney.
-
Assisted dying, assisted death, aid in dying or help to die may refer to:
Assisted suicide, help or assistance to another person to end their life
Euthanasia, the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering
Palliative sedation..
-
The House of Commons, domestically often referred to simply as the Commons, is the lower house and de facto primary chamber of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Westminster.
The Commo
-
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic Sea to the south-west. As of 2021, it had a population of 3.2 million.
-
Northern Ireland is variously described as a country, province or region which is part of the United Kingdom. Located in the northeast of the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland.
-
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by