Assisted suicide Committee convenes for first time

A Committee formed to scrutinise Kim Leadbeater’s dangerous assisted suicide proposals has met for the first time today.

Tasked with considering the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, the Committee will consider evidence from a number of experts and stakeholders, as well as submissions from the public, with its call for evidence currently open.

The Bill intends to allow those in England and Wales deemed to be terminally ill and with less than six months to live to receive help to kill themselves. MPs voted in favour of the principle of legalisation in November by 330 votes to 275.

Lack of transparency

Nikki Da Costa, former Director of Legislative Affairs at 10 Downing Street, criticised an attempt last night by Kim Leadbeater to have the Committee’s evidence sessions held privately, with no public gallery, livestream, or even transcript following the proceedings.

Writing on X, she said: “Transparency builds trust. This change erodes”.

“Why can’t public hear the debate on what ‘good’ looks like for the Committee? Why can’t they hear reasons for why some witnesses chosen and why others not?”

She added: “Committee hasn’t even started and we have: numbers skewed; request for written evidence delayed till 6 Jan; witnesses chosen without sight of written evidence; debate silenced over when, how, who to hear from. Legislation of this magnitude deserves proper scrutiny”.