Even with the best care, people have horrible deaths..

Safeguards promise ahead of historic Parliament vote

- SOPHIE HUSKISSON and ASHLEY COWBURN

THE Labour MP behind historic proposals to legalise assisted suicide told colleagues they have a duty to fix things that are not right.

Kim Leadbeater said even with the best palliative care, people were going through drawn-out deaths or were taking their own lives because their needs cannot be met.

She spoke about vulnerable people being interrogated by police after a loved one had taken their own life as she explained how current laws are not fit for purpose.

Keir Starmer suggested he is yet to make up his mind on whether he will vote to change the law on assisted suicide.

Ms Leadbeater said: "We've got people who are having harrowing, horrible deaths because even with the very best palliative care, their needs cannot be met. We've also got people who are taking their own lives in really tragic circumstances.

"That can't be right and I think we have a duty as legislators to fix that situation."

Speaking to reporters in Parliament, Ms Leadbeater emphasised that her bill has strict provisions to allow mentally competent terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to end their lives.

Campaigners against assisted dying have raised fears of coercion and a slippery slope to legislation taking in more people.