Leadbeater ‘misstatements’ labelled ‘misleading and dishonourable’

Questions have been raised about an alleged series of “misleading” remarks made to Parliament by Kim Leadbeater regarding her assisted suicide proposals.

Journalist Dan Hitchens drew attention to what he described as “a string of highly dubious statements” made by the backbencher at the Second Reading of her assisted suicide Bill.

MPs recently expressed disappointment with the balance of the committee she selected to scrutinise her plans to remove end-of-life protections for vulnerable people.

‘Untruths’

Writing for the Daily Telegraph, Hitchens identified three “misstatements” by Leadbeater: her suggestion the Bill had the support of serving judiciary, her claim ‘safeguards’ included the involvement of a High Court judge, and her declaration that the court’s decision to approve assisted suicide could be “revoked”.

Such “untruths” he wrote, “helped Leadbeater give an impression of a serious, ironclad process as trustworthy as the court system itself. That impression was false.”

The journalist said Leadbeater’s speech was full of exaggerations, such as her asserting that doctors are “under no obligation whatsoever to participate” in assisted suicide, or that “boundaries” in countries that have implemented a similar law “have never changed”.

Hitchens argued that these statements went beyond “political craftiness” and might even count as “misleading parliament”. He concluded: “It is nice that the present system runs on honour. But it has very few resources when an MP acts dishonourably.”

Disquiet

Leadbeater has selected 23 MPs to scrutinise her Bill; 14 who voted in favour and nine against at its Second Reading, when MPs backed the general principles of the Bill by 330 to 275.

However, some campaigners have called the choice of committee members “a stitch-up”, with a disproportionate number of MPs in support of the Bill included, and prominent opposing voices passed over. Notably, the three MPs chosen with backgrounds in medicine are all in favour of the Bill, while medics who voted against were passed over.

Among those selected was Conservative MP Danny Kruger, the principal opponent of the Bill in the House of Commons. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today he warned that “the Bill is quite dangerous”, and expressed concern about “its overall effect on vulnerable people”.

The committee will begin hearing evidence from January, and will be aiming to finish in time for the next stage of the Bill at the end of April. Alongside it will be a separate commission seeking to improve end-of-life care.