Kim Leadbeater replaces High Court judge with assisted dying review panels

Prior to February recess, bill sponsor Kim Leadbeater tabled over 60 amendments to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. The most controversial amendment being the removal of the High Court judge. As the committee resumes its line-by-line scrutiny this week, responsibility might fall to those MPs beyond the committee to expose the bill’s many flaws.

Terminally Ill Adults Kim Leadbeater Second Reading

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Second Reading

Kim Leadbeater MP for Spen Valley arguing the High Court judge is a robust safeguard at second reading.

Ahead of the second reading debate and vote last November, Kim Leadbeater argued that the inclusion of the high court judge as part of the assisted dying process meant her bill was the most robust and strongest safeguard in the world. As a result, many MPs were convinced and voted in support for the bill to continue on to committee stage for further scrutiny.

Fast forward three months, and those robust safeguards have been replaced and has unsettled many MPs. According to The Independent up to140 MPs who voted in favour of the bill in November are now considering voting against, with many describing the process as “chaotic”. It would only take 28 MPs to change their vote for the bill to fall, which appears to be within reach. As Christians we have an important role to play in shifting the debate.

Dissenting voices from Labour MPs must grow in momentum and number

The membership of the committee tasked with scrutinising the bill is weighted in favour of a law change, 18 for, 5 against.

Therefore, the role of MPs beyond the committee and particularly those dissenting voices from within the Labour party play a pivotal role in persuading colleagues on the negative impact the bill will have on those most dependent on health and social care provision.

Diane Abbott Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, has consistently spoken out against the bill. In a recent House of Commons interview she described the bill as “the most pernicious piece of draft legislation to come before parliament in recent memory.”

To coincide with Kim Leadbeater tabling new amendments, 10 backbench Labour MPs published a joint statement stating the removal of the High Court Judge fundamentally changes the bill from what was voted for at second reading.

A group of MPs with concerns about the assisted dying bill have tonight put out a statement about the removal of the High Court from the decision pic.twitter.com/Om8GmF1Slt
— Antonia Bance MP (@antoniabance) February 11, 2025

Antonia Bance MP for Tipton and Wednesbury and a signatory to the statement said in a Sky News interview, “I came into parliament; this wasn’t what I was expected to be doing. I expected to be supporting the Labour manifesto, fixing the NHS and all things Labour were elected to do.”

Ms Bance is right in her observation. Labour’s manifesto pledge to the electorate was to invest and reform the NHS and social care sector. Assisted dying was not a manifesto commitment and yet, if passed, might be the only demonstrable change come the 2030 general election. Legalising assisted dying will only reduce institutional performance and patient care. This should concern all 404 Labour MPs. There are already deep inequalities in the health and social care sector.

Dr Jamilla Hussain Oral Evidence to Terminally Ill Adults End of Life Bill

Dr Jamilla Hussain Oral Evidence to the committee

Dr. Hussain outlined ethnic minorities and other marginalised communities concerns in legalising assisted dying.

Assisted Dying Review Panel, what’s being proposed?

The first thing to note is that the Assisted Dying Review Panel (hereafter referred to as “Panel”) will be overseen by a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner; an individual appointed by the prime minister and is either a current or former senior judge. This appointed individual also has the power to decide membership of this new Panel.

Membership is made up of three individuals, someone from a legal, psychiatric and social worker profession. Supporters of a ‘multi-disciplinary panel’ s lack faith in the “expertise, skills and experience [of the proposed Panel] in assessing capacity and checking for coercion”. An unworkable ask given the overwhelming workload of social workers.

The Panel’s responsibilities are to assess patient fits the eligibility requirements to request an assisted death. They must hear from doctors and may seek further clarification from patients or family members. This Panel could sit in private, bypass family concerns and unilaterally decide if someone can end their own life.

Only in the few cases where the Panel refuses to grant eligibility can the patient seek a second opinion from the Assisted Dying Commissioner.

In truth, this new change is not about increasing safeguards but about quickening the process and in so doing, risk patient’s care and safety. Due to committee bias, this amendment will be supported, but when it returns to the Commons in April for MPs to vote, this change along with the entire bill must be rejected by parliament.

On Tuesday 25 March 2025, we are delighted to join Affinity, CARE, Christian Institute and the Christian Medical Fellowship in calling Christians to a day of prayer against proposals to legalise assisted suicide in the UK. Join us in calling on the Lord’s mercy and protection for those who will be deeply impacted should the law pass in Holyrood and Westminster. More details to follow.