6 h. ago Assisted dying law faces crunch Commons vote as MPs switch sides

The relatively narrow majority of 55 from the historic yes vote in November means every vote will count on Friday.

Politics

11 h. ago UK ‘behind curve’ on assisted dying among progressive nations, says Kim Leadbeater

Exclusive: On eve of Commons vote, MP says legislators may not get another chance to ‘do the right thing’ for 10 yearsThe UK is “behind the curve” on assisted dying among progressive nations, the bill’s sponsor Kim Leadbeater has said on the eve of one of the most consequential votes for social change in England and Wales.The Labour MP told the Guardian that the circumstances may never be right again to pass such a bill, which would legalise assisted dying in England and Wales for those terminally ill with less than six months to live, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel of experts. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago MPs switch sides to vote no to ‘drastically weakened’ assisted dying Bill

The four Labour MPs confirmed their intention on the eve of a crunch Commons vote.

Politics

18 h. ago Esther Rantzen and terminally ill preacher make case for assisted dying Bill

The House of Commons will vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, which will see it either progress to the Lords or fall.

Events

30 h. ago Assisted dying: All you need to know ahead of the next crunch parliamentary vote

The Bill is back in the Commons for a debate and major vote which would see it either pass to the House of Lords or fall.

Politics

30 h. ago Campaigners make case for assisted dying Bill ahead of crucial Commons vote

Friday will be the first time the Bill has been debated and voted on in its entirety since last year’s historic yes vote.

Politics

40 h. ago Starmer refuses to step in to delay final Commons vote on assisted dying

Prime minister risks angering MPs after more than 50 Labour backbenchers had called for more time to scrutinise Kim Leadbeater’s bill

Politics

68 h. ago MPs are set for crunch vote on decriminalising abortion TODAY as biggest law change in more than 50 years seeks to protect women

Currently abortion is a criminal offence in England and Wales unless it takes place before 24 weeks into a pregnancy and with the approval of doctors.

Politics

4 d. ago Starmer facing challenge to intervene on assisted dying vote after more than 50 Labour MPs demand Commons delay

Exclusive: The dramatic late intervention comes in a letter to Leader of the House Lucy Powell from Labour MPs warning that there has not been sufficient scrutiny of a bill which will ‘fundamentally change’ healthcare

Politics

6 d. ago MPs pile extra safeguards into assisted dying laws as Labour's Kim Leadbeater suffers first Commons defeat on her Bill

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill underwent a second day of report stage in the House of Commons as they debated various amendments.

Events

7 d. ago Assisted dying: UK doctor says helping patients die in Australia is a ‘privilege’

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is due to return to the House of Commons for debate on Friday

Events

8 d. ago Assisted dying: UK doctor says helping patients die in Australia is ‘privilege’

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is due to return to the House of Commons for debate and more votes on amendments on Friday.

Events

9 d. ago Teaching assistant killed in knife attack at school in north

Fifteen-year-old suspect arrested and Emmanuel Macron condemns ‘senseless violence’ after stabbing in NogentEmmanuel Macron has condemned what he called a “senseless wave of violence” after a 15-year-old pupil fatally stabbed a teaching assistant at a school.The 31-year-old woman died in hospital after she was stabbed during a bag search at the start of the school day outside a middle school in Nogent, in the Haute-Marne department in north-east France. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Teaching assistant fatally stabbed by pupil at school in north

Fifteen-year-old suspect arrested and Emmanuel Macron condemns ‘senseless violence’ after stabbing in NogentEmmanuel Macron has condemned what he called a “senseless wave of violence” after a 15-year-old pupil fatally stabbed a teaching assistant at a school.The 31-year-old woman died in hospital after she was stabbed during a bag search at the start of the school day outside a middle school in Nogent, in the Haute-Marne department in north-east France. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Labour rebel forces Commons vote amid fears of housebuilding reforms ‘wreckage’

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the ‘status quo’ for the environment and development was not working.

Politics

1 week ago Labour support for assisted dying law falls as more MPs switch position to oppose change over coercion fears and effect on vulnerable people

The Commons will next week debate changes to the plan to allow terminally ill people with less than six months to live to end their own lives, ahead of a crunch vote later this month.

Events

2 w. ago Keir Starmer's muddled politics are reaching their limit. It's time for him to make a choice | Andy Beckett

Veer left or double down on the right? Either way, the prime minister needs to commit and sell it to an impatient electorateAfter less than a year in power, Labour has reached a familiar place. Keir Starmer’s troubled government is at a fork in the road, wondering which direction to follow. With the delivery of its spending review next week after several acrimonious delays, and a Commons vote on its divisive welfare cuts expected later this month, the government’s unity and morale are fragile. The public finances are severely strained, with ever more competing demands, such as for extra defence spending. Though much more energetic than its Tory predecessor, this government often seems opaque, unable to explain its purpose in a compelling way.Many voters and journalists – even more impatient than usual after years of manic politics – are already considering what might replace Starmer’s administration. At barely 20% in the polls, Labour is as unpopular as in its most disliked days und...

Politics

2 w. ago My mother died of assisted suicide and now I'm doing the same for a heartbreaking reason

Price Carter, 68, from Kelowna, British Columbia, has chosen to die on his own terms, utlizing Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program.

Events

2 w. ago Suicide pod activist who 'brought capsule to Switzerland' dies by assisted suicide

In a statement following the announcement of his death, suicide pod creator Philip Nitschke claimed Florian Willet had been "broken" by allegations made against him

Events

3 w. ago Disabled celebrities urge Keir Starmer to scrap ‘inhumane’ benefit cuts

Exclusive: More than 100 people including Liz Carr and Rosie Jones sign letter criticising Pip and universal credit changesMore than 100 of the UK’s most high-profile disabled people, including Liz Carr, Rosie Jones, Ruth Madeley and Cherylee Houston, have called on the prime minister to abandon “inhumane and catastrophic plans to cut disability benefits”.In an open letter to Keir Starmer before a planned Commons vote next month, they argue that the government’s plan to reduce eligibility to personal independence payment (Pip) and the health component of universal credit is a matter of “survival” and “basic human rights”. Continue reading...

Politics