MPs have voted to approve the assisted dying bill at a second reading, but the journey to becoming law is far from over. What happens next for parliament, the government, Kim Leadbeater, and the cabinet?
Immediately after the vote, Kim Leadbeater moved a motion to send the bill to a public bill committee for further examination. The committee will consist of members with diverse views, and the government will appoint a minister from the Ministry of Justice to oversee the process. The committee is expected to start its work next year, taking written and oral evidence before voting on potential amendments.
Once the committee finalizes the bill, it will move to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. Both houses will eventually hold final votes on the text after going through several iterations. If the bill becomes law, the departments of health and justice will jointly manage its implementation, despite opposition from the respective secretaries of state.
Kim Leadbeater, the Labour backbencher who introduced the bill, will continue to lead the efforts as the named author of the bill. She has received overwhelming support from colleagues and families affected by the current law. Leadbeater remains focused on advocating for the bill’s passage through the legislative process.
In terms of the government, officials have emphasized neutrality on the bill, but will need to pass a money resolution and publish an impact assessment. The health and justice departments will collaborate on implementation, with a minister from the justice department expected to oversee the process. The two-year implementation period built into the bill will allow for a smooth transition if it becomes law.
Meanwhile, the cabinet has been reminded not to publicly share their views on assisted dying. Some ministers, like Wes Streeting, have expressed opposition, causing tension within the party. Streeting’s department will be involved in drafting the impact assessment, potentially complicating his stance on the issue.
The journey of the assisted dying bill is far from over, with multiple steps remaining before it can become law. The coming months will be crucial in determining the fate of the bill and its impact on end-of-life care in the UK. As the process unfolds, stakeholders from parliament, the government, and the cabinet will play pivotal roles in shaping the future of this contentious issue.
