Assisted dying bill could return after ballot for private member's bills

Two MPs who previously supported an assisted dying bill placed in the top five of a private member’s bill ballot, creating a narrow route to revive the bill. Supporters of Kim Leadbeater’s bill, which ran out of time, may use the Parliament Act to bypass the Lords if another MP takes the bill through the Commons again. Labour MP Lauren Edwards came second and Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George came fourth. The ballot included 485 MPs, with 20 selected to present bills, though practical passage is unlikely for those outside the top spots. George said he would consider whether to take the bill, consult constituents, and weigh other priorities such as affordable housing, safe nurse staffing, and palliative care standards.

"Supporters of Kim Leadbeater's original private member's bill, which ran out of time to be passed, have the chance to use the Parliament Act to bypass the Lords if they can persuade another MP to take it through the Commons again. The Labour MP Lauren Edwards came second and the Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George came fourth in the ballot, which was drawn on Thursday morning."

"More MPs entered this year's draw than in any other held during the last decade, with 485 in the running. Twenty were selected to present their bills, though in practice there is little chance of any MP below the top five spots having enough time to pass any bill. MPs must present their bills by 17 June."

"George, the MP for St Ives, told the Guardian he would take some time to consider whether he would take on the assisting dying bill. He said the bill was on my list as a potential but it's a list of at least a dozen and growing. He said he would consult his constituents in the next fortnight before making his decision."

"George was previously a vocal critic of the delay to the bill in the Lords and he said bringing the bill back would end for good the disgraceful abuse of entitlement by a few members of the House of Lords. But he said he was also considering subjects including affordable housing, safe staffing by nurses and palliative care standards."

Read at www.theguardian.com