The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – known as the Assisted Dying Bill – reached the committee stage this February and was due to receive its third reading in April – now postponed until after the local elections and scheduled for 16 May.

With both vocal supporters and fierce critics, the Bill itself has been subject to a great deal of controversy – not only about the content of the Bill, but also with the parliamentary procedures surrounding its passage through the House of Commons.

Introduced by Kim Leadbeater MP in November last year, there are many critics who point to the variety of inconsistencies in the language of the Bill, the fact it was introduced – rather suddenly – as a Private Members Bill, and that the Committee Stage has been stacked with the testimonies of those in favour of the Bill, with opposing voices either weak on legislative procedure or ill-equipped to give testimony.  Indeed, the reason given for the postponement of its next reading is partly due to a range of controversies over the vast array of amendments to the original bill, provided to the committee in bulk with no time to properly read and consider.

Moreover, the issue itself has not been part of widespread public debate for many years and only received five hours of debate in Parliament.

Yet, since Assisted Dying was first legalised in Oregon in 1997, there has been a trend towards legalisation across the liberal world, including Belgium, Australia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, New Zealand and in Canada where assisted dying now accounts for one in 20 deaths. So, is it time the UK caught up? After all, there is evidence to show that the UK public now support assisted dying to a greater extent than they once did. Although survey data varies, it is estimated that around 63%-74% of the public think terminally ill adults should be allowed to make that choice with one campaign – Dignity in Dying – finding up to 84 per cent of the public are in favour.

On 13^th May, prior to the Bill’s third reading, Politics in Pubs will debate this issue for a second time. Welcoming the return of Professor Kevin Yuill, we’ll be asking whether the Bill ‘provides the most detailed, robust proposal on assisted dying reform that Westminster has ever considered,’ as Dignity in Dying claim, and is simply an extension of the liberal ideal of bodily autonomy. Or, whether we should be deeply concerned about a society that prioritises taking a life over creating the conditions for a better one, through social and palliative care.  Is Professor Yuill right when he says, ‘If we are to place value on even the most wretched of human lives – an important marker of civilisation – neither the death penalty or assisted suicide can be justified’?

Come along, join us for a pint (or three) and debate the issue for yourself.

See you there!

Come and join the discussion

You are warmly invited to join us at The Telegraph, Orchard Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3NY (behind the Central Station), for our next meeting on 13 May 2025 at 7:00pm.

See here for location.