The huge intervention that could decide the fate of the End Of Life Bill
The full details of the End Of Life Bill are now known, and MPs and peers will have time to study its contents ahead of making one of their most important decisions.
We have not had societal change like this since the Abortion Act of 1967.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has done some exhaustive research in preparing her bill, which is due to be published on Tuesday.
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What is assisted dying?
It should go some way to allay fears around safeguarding the most vulnerable communities and to stop the “slippery slope” effect: when the bill identifies one particular cohort but is then changed – usually through legal challenges – to include more and more groups.
This is what has happened in other jurisdictions.
But the MP insists that only terminally ill patients with six months or less to live can qualify for an assisted death and that once passed, the bill cannot be changed or altered.
The application to die will only be allowed after being signed off by two independent doctors and a High Court judge.
Leadbeater says it is the strictest safeguarding applied to assisted dying legislation anywhere in the world. That might help change the minds of some politicians who are still undecided.
However, the concerns around the further erosion in palliative care still exist.
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Even the Health Secretary Wes Streeting said this is why he opposes the move.
This is a huge intervention and one that could decide the bill’s fate.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting will not support the bill. Pic: PA
Leadbeater makes a powerful argument when she says the two: good palliative care and the option for some terminally ill patients to end their own lives, can happen simultaneously.
Read more:
Ed Davey recalls ‘pain’ of looking after terminally ill mum as a child
Leadbeater says legally assisted dying won’t lead to ‘slippery slope’
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There is also some resistance from NHS staff who say the health service cannot cope with the extra burden. That is a valid concern that needs to be addressed.
It is a deeply complex and divisive issue, many people will have deep rooted opinions and will not be swayed by any argument in favour or against.
The rest now have an opportunity to study the detail and make up their own minds.
The UK has called for restraint and diplomacy after Israel launched airstrikes on Iran early on Friday.
The Israeli military said a “pre-emptive, precise, combined offensive based on high-quality intelligence” had been launched against targets in Iran – called Operation Rising Lion.
Follow latest: Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear sites
According to Iranian state media, six nuclear scientists were killed in Israel’s strikes. An Israeli military spokesperson said Iran had launched more than 100 drones towards the country.
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Analysis: ‘This is the big one’
In a statement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged “all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently”.
He added: “Escalation serves no one in the region. Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate.
“Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy added that “this is a dangerous moment” and said “stability in the Middle East is vital for global security”.
The US said it had not been involved in Israel’s attack on Iran, and warned against any retaliation targeting American interests or personnel.
US President Donald Trump had previously urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to attack Iran while Washington negotiates a nuclear deal with the country.
Speaking to Sky News, British industry minister Sarah Jones said the UK was also not involved in the Israeli military operation.
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Asked if Israel was right to say that it had no choice but to carry out dozens of airstrikes on Iranian military sites overnight, Ms Jones said: “I don’t think anybody questions how destabilising Iran is being.”
“This is escalating, not de-escalating the situation. And we would urge restraint,” she added.
“We need to be calm at this point, work with our allies, do what we can to stop escalation, because we do not believe escalation is going to be helpful in the region or the wider, wider world, of course.”
The minister said the “foreign secretary will say more in due course”.
KuCoin enters the Thai market with a fully licensed exchange after acquiring ERX, Thailand’s first SEC-supervised digital token platform.
The CFTC said that My Big Coin investors might not get their money back as the alleged operators “may not have sufficient funds or assets.”
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