MPs backing assisted dying are braced for legislation to collapse amid fury over the handling of the Bill
THE assisted dying Bill is at risk of collapse at the next vote in protest over how it has been handled.
Some MPs who voted in favour of the legislation in November are now considering switching sides.
It comes amid concerns over a lack of safeguards such as scrapping a requirement for a High Court judge to approve applications.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who is promoting the bill, has instead suggested a three-person panel with a senior legal figure, psychiatrist and social worker.
One insider said: “Easily 50 MPs voted for it because they wanted to give it a fair hearing not because they backed it.
“Many do not like what they’ve seen so I think defeat is perfectly likely.
“Unfortunately, that will shut down the conversation for the next 25 years.”
The bill passed by a majority of 55 and only 28 would need to change their minds for it to fail.
One MP who backs assisted dying said: “Even I will vote against it if I’m not happy with the legislation.”
The third reading is expected in mid-May.
Multiple sources said the anti-assisted dying campaign had been much more organised than the pro campaign.
And MPs’ inboxes have been flooded with emails calling on them to turn against the bill.
But sources behind the bill said they had not picked up any significant loss of support.
