𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Keir Starmer has dismissed concerns by rebel Labour MPs that they have not had enough time to debate Kim Leadbeater’s assisted dying law ahead of Friday’s vote.

Responding to a letter signed by over 50 Labour MPs accusing the Bill of being rushed, the Prime Minister told reporters there has been “a lot of time” to debate the legislation.

Speaking in Canada Sir Keir told reporters: “It is a matter for individual parliamentarians, which is why I’ve not waded in with a view on this publicly, and I’m not going to now, it’s coming to a conclusion.”

“There has been a lot of time discussing it, both in Parliament and beyond Parliament, and quite right too it’s a really serious issue.

He said his position remains unchanged, and elaborated that his support for Ms Leadbeater’s bill stems from his time leading the Crown Prosecution Service.

Sir Keir explained: “My own position is long-standing and well-known in relation to it, based on my experience when I was chief prosecutor for five years, where I oversaw every case that was investigated.”

In 2010, the then-Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to bring charges against a doctor arrested following reports he had travelled to Dignitas with a terminally ill man and helped fund the procedure.

At the time Sir Keir argued that the doctor had been “motivated by a strong belief that the law on assisted suicide is wrong” and that he “did not act for personal gain; did not put pressure on Mr Cutkelvin; and did not take an active part in the suicide itself”.

More than 50 Labour MPs wrote to Leader of the Commons Lucy Powell earlier this week complaining that parliamentarians had not been given enough time to debate amendments tabled to the Bill during its report stage.

It read: “MPs will be arriving at Westminster on Friday morning without sight of the final version of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.”

“Just fourteen percent of MPs have been afforded the opportunity to speak in the chamber on this Bill Several movers of amendments haven’t been able to speak to the changes they have laid.”

MPs will take part in the final ‘third reading’ debate and vote this Friday.