Politics latest: Emotional speeches in parliament as MPs debate assisted dying , with result of vote uncertain (2024)

Away from the debate on assisted dying, the prime minister's deputy spokesman has been speaking to journalists following the resignation of Louise Haigh as transport secretary.

As a reminder, Ms Haigh quit after Sky News revealed that she admitted she pleaded guilty to an offence connected with incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013.

The spokesman repeatedly refused to clarify whether the PM knew about the criminal conviction, and appeared to suggest that she resigned after new information came to light.

He said: "The prime minister has accepted her resignation, and she has acknowledged that the issue will inevitably be a distraction on delivering the work of government."

Asked if Sir Keir Starmer knew about Ms Haigh's conviction when he appointed her to the cabinet, he said: "Following further information emerging, the prime minister has accepted Louise Haigh's resignation."

He refused to say what the new information was, only saying he said he would not "get into individual conversations", and that ministers are expected to adhere to the ministerial code.

Asked whether she was asked to resign or offered, he simply said: "She resigned."

ByTamara Cohen, political correspondent

Former Tory minister John Hayes, speaking against the bill, warns that it would change the nature of the NHS permanently if doctors can take life, as well as protect it.

"This bill changes the relationshipbetween clinicians and patients forever", he said.

He added that he didn't believe it could protect the vulnerable.

"Each and every one of us knows there are many cruel and spiteful and ruthless and unkind people in the world, and there are many vulnerable and frail people.

"And when those two collide, it's not a good outcome."

ByTamara Cohen, political correspondent

After a strong intervention against the bill from former psychiatrist Dr Ben Spencer, a Tory MP, we have a medic speaking in favour.

Peter Prinsley, newly-elected Labour MP for Bury St Edmunds, has been one of the leading supporters of assisted dying and is a former consultant ENT surgeon.

He told MPs: "Assisted dying is already occurring in unregulated ways, with up to 650 terminally ill people taking their own lives each year, often in traumatic circumstances, causing additional pain for their loved ones.

"This bill promotes freedom of choice at the end of life in a controlled and regulated manner. "

The number of assisted deaths which could flow from this bill is hard to predict, but opponents point to reports of coercion among those in Canada and Oregon where it is legal.

The British Medical Association and royal colleges have taken a neutral view on assisted dying, but the group representing palliative care doctors is against it.

Dame Meg Hillier has spoken very movingly in parliament about her daughter becoming extremely ill, and why that means she opposes legalising assisted dying.

The long-serving Labour MP said they have heard "heartbreaking stories" from across the House today, saying: "The principle at stake is that we do cross a Rubicon whereby somebody who is terminally ill by the definition of this Bill is assisted by the state to die.

"This is a fundamental change in the relationship between the state and the citizen, and the patient and their doctor.

"If we have a scintilla of doubt about allowing the state that power, we should vote against this today."

Dame Meg went on to argue that "a failure in palliative care and support is not a reason to continue" with the bill.

She then became very emotional as she spoke about her daughter: "She was admitted to hospital with acute pancreatitis as a teenager, so this bill would not have covered her at that point, but I did not know for five days, in fact many months, whether she would live or die.

"Those first five days she did not sleep, and she was crying out in pain.

"But I saw what good medicine can do that palliated that pain, that got her to a place where although for two-and-a-half months she was unable to eat, she was saved and the key was she was not in pain - well, she was in pain, but it was managed."

She told the House that she had not intended to discuss such a personal matter publicly, saying: "I hope [my daughter] forgives me for raising her personal situation in the House today."

ByTamara Cohen, political correspondent

Dr Ben Spencer, a Conservative MP with a PhD in decision-making capacity, had tabled the "reasoned amendment" calling for more scrutiny before this question is considered.

He told MPs that there is a version of assisted dying which addresses concerns about coercion but he argues that this isn't it.

"I believe legislation on assisted dying could be brought in that has fully reviewed and addressed these issues", he said. "But parliamentarians must deal with what we have in front of us today."

"I think about the elderly, women in the care home with mild cognitive impairment retained capacity, but nevertheless vulnerable to coercion and undue influence of the sick mother whose child may lose their job or relationship due to the burden of caring responsibilities.

"This bill doesn't protect them. It risks placing implicit pressure on people already vulnerable at a time of life", he said.

Downing Street has just announced that Heidi Alexander is the new transport secretary, following the resignation of Louise Haigh.

The Swindon South MP had been serving as a justice minister until her promotion today.

She was London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s deputy transport mayor between 2018-2021.

Alexander has a lengthy career in politics preceding that, having been the MP for Lewisham East from 2010-2018, when she was the shadow health secretary during the junior doctors' contract strikes.

Read more from Sky News:

As MPs debate whether to progress the legislation that would see assisted dying legalised, both proponents and opponents of it are gathered outside parliament.

They were there as MPs were arriving for the debate, and are hoping they can influence how today's vote goes.

Here are some photos from the protest this morning.

Our news correspondent Matthew Thompsonhas been speaking to some of the protesters outside parliament.

Watch what they had to say here:

ByTamara Cohen, political correspondent

An interesting moment in the Commons as health secretary Wes Streeting who opposes the bill, turns to give a sympathetic smile to Rachel Maskell, as she argues palliative care fails too many people.

"We must give my right hon. friend the health secretary, after Lord Darzi's devastating report, the opportunity to reset health and care", she says.

Streeting is understood to have angered cabinet colleagues by arguing that he feels the risk of coercion is too great, and palliative care is not good enough to give people a real choice.

Maskell also says this debate has "consumed us" and this will only escalate if the bill passes this stage.

Mr Streeting would have to be the health secretary who examines the impact and then implements it if it passes the next stages.

Lord Darzi is a former health minister whose rapid review of the NHS commissioned by the Labour government, concluded it is in a "critical condition".

ByTamara Cohen, political correspondent

The first MP to admit having changed their mind on this subject is Conservative Andrew Mitchell, who used to be against assisted dying when it was last debated in 2015, but is now in favour.

He says the fact that many more jurisdictions are allowing it is an argument in favour.

He said he'd been left in "floods of tears" by stories of families who had seen loved ones suffering at the end of their lives.

"If this bill does not go through a second reading, that will be the end of the matter for, many years", he said.

"And we would do so, we would do so in the knowledge, Madam Deputy Speaker, that Scotland, the Isle of Man, Jersey, many other countries are likely to bring in legislation like this.

"There are 300 million people in 30 jurisdictions who have secured this ability to choose."

Supporters of assisted dying have claimed in recent days and weeks that they have a number of MPs who have changed their minds on the issue. That will be tested in a few hours' time.