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Two more Labour MPs have expressed significant doubts about the assisted dying bill, suggesting they would now oppose the legislation.
The former health minister Andrew Gwynne, who previously abstained, wrote to his constituents in Gorton and Denton to say: “To date I don’t think that the bill has been strengthened enough and that safeguards should go much further.”
Paul Foster, the Labour MP for South Ribble, who previously voted in favour, told constituents this week he also had serious concerns about the bill’s safeguards, suggesting he, too, could vote against it when it returns to the Commons for its final vote next week.
He said that following the alarm voiced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, he was “seriously concerned about the adequacy of the revised safeguards, particularly the removal of judicial oversight and the wider implications for vulnerable individuals”.
He said: “As we approach the final stages of this bill, I want to be clear that I will not support the legislation at third reading unless I am absolutely assured that robust and enforceable safeguards are in place to protect people from harm, pressure or coercion.”
About 14 MPs who backed the bill or abstained at its second reading in November have said they are likely to vote against it. At least two others have said they will change their positions to vote for the bill, including the technology minister Chris Bryant, who previously abstained, and the Labour MP Jack Abbott, who previously voted against.
Labour’s Debbie Abrahams, the chair of the work and pensions select committee, and Josh Fenton-Glynn, who both abstained previously, say they will now vote against, and Karl Turner, who voted in favour, has said he will abstain.
Those who say they plan to switch from voting yes to voting against also include the former Conservative minister George Freeman and the Tory MPs Mike Wood and Andrew Snowden. The Tory MP Charlie Dewhirst, who previously abstained, says he will vote against.
Two Liberal Democrat MPs have also switched, including the party’s work and pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling, and Brian Mathew, the Melksham and Devizes MP, who said that scrutiny of the plans had left “several concerns I feel have been inadequately answered”.
The Reform UK chief whip, Lee Anderson, and his former party colleague Rupert Lowe withdrew support publicly when the bill’s sponsor, Kim Leadbeater, removed the need for a high court judge to approve each procedure, instead giving this authority to an expert panel.
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The bill passed with a majority of 55 in November, but the numbers are expected to be significantly tighter when it returns to the Commons for third reading, scheduled for 20 June. This Friday, MPs will debate amendments to the bill for a second day.
The first day of debates on amendments drawn up during a lengthy committee stage resulted in some changes being agreed, including an opt-out for all healthcare workers from being involved in assisted dying, extending the exemption that previously would have been available only to doctors.
The bill drawn up by Leadbeater would allow terminally ill patients in England and Wales to end their lives if they have less than six months to live, contingent on the agreement of two doctors and an expert panel including a senior lawyer, psychiatrist and social worker.
