Tory MP attempts to gag criticism of assisted dying committee after Down Syndrome vote

A erstwhile curate and cardinal state of Kim Leadbeater’s bid to present assisted dying into the UK has attempted to gag disapproval of the measure committee dealing with the arguable legislation.

Tory MP Kit Malthouse, who has been a cheerleader for the bill and sits connected the committee, made a melodramatic constituent of bid aft a bulk voted down an amendment to support radical with Down Syndrome by 13 to 8.

The amendment’s decision added to increasing concerns from run groups that susceptible and disabled radical oregon radical with agelong word conditions volition not beryllium protected by the authorities into being coerced to extremity their lives early.

The amendment had been drawn up and supported by 50 groups including Down’s Syndrome UK, Down’s Syndrome Scotland, and the National Down’s Syndrome Policy Group.

But aft akin amendments connected diabetes and intelligence wellness were rejected, Mr Malthouse appeared to judge they were being weaponised to onslaught the committee which has a bulk of pro-assisted dying MPs connected it.

In an evident bid to soundlessness criticism, helium made a constituent of bid asking if enactment could beryllium taken against those who misrepresent the committee.

Mr Malthouse said: “If anybody, if immoderate Member oregon so anybody externally, were for example, to effort to misrepresent portion of the statement connected those amendments. What perchance could we do?

“So, for example, idiosyncratic could successful regards to the amendment successful to respect to radical with Down Syndrome, imply, oregon authorities connected societal media that the committee has refused to look astatine accommodations for radical with Down Syndrome and truthful would beryllium disregarding payment nether the bill.

“That you volition beryllium alert would beryllium a superior misrepresentation of some the statement and the volition and if anybody did that, either a subordinate of the House mostly oregon idiosyncratic externally. What measures could we instrumentality to close that?”

He was told it was not a substance for the seat and would request to inquire the House authorities.

But the contented arose little than a week aft Keir Starmer and JD Vance publically clashed implicit escaped code successful the UK with the US vice president claiming that determination were excessively galore clampdowns connected societal media.

Lynn Murray, spokesperson for Don’t Screen Us Out, whose 25-year-old girl Rachel has Down Syndrome, said: “I’m precise disappointed that the amendment aimed astatine protecting radical with Down Syndrome was voted down today.

“Multiple organisations representing radical with Down’s syndrome made wide explicit extortion successful the Bill for radical with Down’s syndrome is indispensable to guarantee safeguards from the antagonistic interaction this Bill would person connected our community.

She besides accused Mr Malthouse of trying to endanger campaigners.

She said: “The behaviour of Kit Malthouse successful the committee was disturbing. He appeared to beryllium threatening organisations representing radical with Down Syndrome simply for criticising the committee’s decision. We volition not beryllium silenced successful our tendency to support the vulnerable.”

Nicola Enoch main enforcement of Down Syndrome UK (DSUK): “Sadly, we cognize that successful truthful galore ways crossed society, the lives of those with Down Syndrome are excessively often misunderstood and devalued. This makes radical with Down Syndrome particularly susceptible to coercion and unit nether assisted termination laws.”

Rachael Ross of the National Down Syndrome Policy Group (NDSPG) added: “Many radical with Down syndrome and different disabilities are present outliving their parents oregon guardians. The effect of this is that they tin beryllium highly babelike upon the authorities and healthcare organisations. Getting this Bill close to guarantee that those with Down Syndrome are decently protected could not beryllium much important. As it stands, the Leadbeater Bill does not adequately support those with Down syndrome. They’re peculiarly astatine risk.”

However, Ms Leadbeater has perpetually argued that the rules successful her measure astir who would beryllium capable to extremity their beingness aboriginal are choky and bash not request a database of conditions attached.

She told The Independent: “Look astatine clause two, the explanation of terminal illness, the truly important presumption are, it has to beryllium inevitably progressive and it cannot beryllium reversed by treatment.”