Assisted Dying Bill Committee Includes Two Government Ministers

The committee, tasked with scrutinizing the bill legalizing assisted dying, has a majority of MPs who support the legislation, raising concerns from opponents.

The committee will examine the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes legalizing assisted dying for terminally ill adults with less than six months to live, subject to approval by two doctors and a High Court judge.
The 23-member committee includes two government ministers, Stephen Kinnock and Sarah Sackman, both of whom support the bill, an unusual move for a private member’s bill where the government is neutral.
The committee is composed of 14 MPs who voted in favor of the bill and nine who opposed it, leading critics to claim the process lacks balanced representation.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the bill, stated that the committee reflects the range of views expressed in the debate and will scrutinize the legislation thoroughly.
The bill passed its second reading in November with 330 MPs in favor and 275 against, but further scrutiny and votes in both Houses of Parliament are required before it can become law.