Assisted dying panel rejects Down’s Syndrome safeguard

The western world might be collapsing but here in Westminster it is business as usual. In one of parliament’s dusty old committee rooms, Kim Leadbeater’s Assisted Dying Bill continues to slowly make its way through the legislative process, one agonising line at a time. But if you hoped that this exercise would be a Socratic discussion of open minds, you might be left somewhat disappointed.

Virtually all of the amendments proposed have been struck down by the pro-Bill majority on the committee, by near-identical margins. Today it was the turn of the amendment on Down’s Syndrome. The committee voted by 13 to 8 to exclude specific provision on the face of the bill for support for those with Down’s syndrome when initiating conversations on assisted suicide and death. It came after the committee last week rejected amendments to protect people with anorexia. No wonder some MPs are now nervous about the Bill passing at Third Reading…

Following today’s vote, one of the pro-Bill MPs, Kit Malthouse, stood up to ask a point of order on what consequences would apply to those who ‘misrepresent’ the rejected amendment.