Ministers letting MPs ‘vote in the dark’ over changing law on assisted dying, says senior Tory in blistering attack
MINISTERS are letting MPs “vote in the dark” on today over changing the law on assisted dying, a senior Tory says.
Lord Wolfson has launched a blistering attack, saying there has been a failure to carry out vital legal and policy work ahead of the knife-edge decision.
The peer has fired off a five-page letter to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Attorney General Lord Hermer before the free vote.
Proposed legislation drawn up by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater will see the issue debated and voted on for the first time in almost ten years.
But shadow Attorney General Lord Wolfson tells of a string of concerns — including fears that the planned law leaves much detail to be decided by “codes of conduct and regulations”.
He said: “Without seeing those codes of conduct it is hard to judge how effective the safeguards would be.
“Parliament is therefore required to vote in the dark. This is not good for Parliamentary accountability and for the rule of law.”
PM Sir Keir Starmer did not publicly endorse either side of the debate yesterday, saying he did not want to put pressure on MPs from all parties.
Meanwhile, another senior Tory clashed with a colleague after saying that terminally ill patients are forced to endure a “horror show” and must be able to die with dignity.
Ex-Cabinet Minister Kit Malthouse told MP colleague Danny Kruger on The Sun’s Never Mind The Ballots yesterday that the sick are increasingly turning to “violent” attempts at suicide.
But Mr Kruger argued the state should not be allowed to decide that “some people are better off dead”.