Ipswich MP 'considering' views before Assisted Dying debate

Jack Abbott, who voted against the bill previously, revealed has not yet decided which way his vote will go when the debate goes before Parliament for a third time on Friday.

After the second reading of the bill, Mr Abbott served on the cross-party committee to shape the legislation before the final bill reading - which he says is "much improved".

Ipswich MP Jack Abbott and Lowestoft MP Jess Asato both voted against the bill in November (Image: Jack Abbott) Mr Abbot said: "Since this emotive debate returned to Parliament last year, I have heard from hundreds of people across Ipswich who have shared with me their first-hand experience and views on this issue and met with local and national organisations who have shared their valuable expertise.

“At the time of the Second Reading of the Bill in November, I was clear that, although I am in favour of the principle of assisted dying, I did not think the Bill, as it then currently stood, was in a place where it could pass into law.

Ipswich MP Jack Abbott served on the assisted dying bill committee (Image: Roger Harris/House of Commons) “After that vote, I was asked to serve on the cross-party parliamentary scrutiny committee that examined the Bill. Our committee sat for around 100 hours, considered over 500 amendments, and heard from many expert witnesses.

“Thanks to the work of our committee, I believe that the Bill is much improved from the one presented to Parliament last year.

“With the updated Bill set to be introduced for parliamentary scrutiny, I will continue to carefully consider the different viewpoints and stories shared with me by so many people as I make my decision on how to vote.”

At the vote in November, Suffolk's eight representatives in the House of Commons were split equally - with four of the county's MPs voting for the bill and four against.