Exclusive: In an interview with The Independent, Kim Leadbeater said she shares ‘genuine concerns’ about ensuring safeguards are strong but says MPs must be able to give their final verdict at third reading.
Ms Leadbeater is acutely aware that while she won the second reading debate, as many as 71 MPs only voted for it to allow the discussion to continue and would hold their final verdict until the third reading final vote in April or May.
Some 81 MPs - including Ms Leadbeater herself - cited the high court judge hearing as the safeguard which persuaded them to vote for the bill initially, helping give her a majority of 55 on the second reading.
Kim Leadbeater gave a full and frank interview with The Independent after a bruising first week of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill committee scrutinising the proposal line by line over two sessions.
The Labour MP behind the assisted dying legislation has appealed to critics not to flood her bill with amendments before MPs have a chance to make their final verdict.
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