Why I'm co-sponsoring the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

I’m co-sponsoring the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults, with a prognosis of six months or less, to have the choice of an assisted death.

Lauren Edwards MP, who came Second in Parliament’s Private Members Bill ballot has announced this week she is reintroducing the Bill that Kim Leadbeater sponsored in 2024.

For me, the essence of assisted dying is about choice. As a disabled women, too often I see that control is taken away from disabled people in all sorts of circumstances. I passionately believe in inclusive healthcare for disabled people, and ensuring they have a strong voice in advocating for themselves on that healthcare.

My constituents have also continued to share their stories about the need for access to an assisted death, where an adult is terminally ill and only have six months left to live. This is about completion, and bringing clarity and certainty for terminally ill people across our country.

Last year, I sat on the Committee for the Bill, working for over 90 hours to strengthen the legislation, and I have been reassured of its safeguards and protections, including for disabled people.

During the Committee Stage, I personally brought three amendments, which were unanimously supported by the Committee and are now part of the Bill, to introduce stronger safeguards for disabled people and strengthen our voices. These amendments introduced two New Clauses, the first to establish a Disability Programme Board, made up of disabled people and our organisations, to embed a long-term and iterative structure in law to report on the Bill's implementation and impact on disabled people. The second New Clause established provisions to establish independent advocates for people with autism, and mental health conditions enabling them to effectively understand their options around end-of-life care.

The Bill was debated passionately and voted through the Commons with a majority, but despite this clear mandate from MPs and the public, the Bill was delayed and talked out by a small minority of the unelected House of Lords. Last week, I spoke in a Westminster Hall debate on the e-petition 752673 relating to the timely progress of bills through Parliament, about my concerns that this approach taken by the Lords has risked having a chilling effect on backbenchers in choosing the Private Members Bills to bring before the House, particularly on issues of conscience.

I know that colleagues across the House remain confident and supportive of the Bill, and I am proud to support this new Bill being brought back to Parliament.

My friend and incredible assisted dying campaigner Nathaniel Dye passed away last year. He squeezed every last drop of joy out of life and taught me so much about why living a good death matters. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is about ensuring those who are terminally ill are given the dignity, choice and compassion to live a good death.