PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press release – Senedd narrowly votes in favour of consent motion, having already made clear its opposition to making assisted suicide legal
Please note: Comment from our spokesperson and the former Deputy Prime Minister and Member of the House of Lords, Thérèse Coffey is provided at the end of the press release. Highlight videos from the debate are available on our X account.
24 February 2026 – This evening, the Welsh Senedd (Welsh Parliament), which opposes assisted suicide, narrowly voted for a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM), after significant pressure was placed on MSs by Kim Leadbeater and Lord Falconer, which was described by Bill opponents as “pure blackmail”.
An LCM is required under the devolution settlement where UK legislation would extend into devolved areas in Wales.
As supporters of the motion made clear, the vote was not on whether assisted suicide should be made legal in Wales. Rather, it was a vote on a narrowly worded motion regarding the implementation of assisted suicide in Wales, should it become law.
When it comes to the question of whether assisted suicide should be made legal in Wales, the Senedd decisively voted against assisted suicide in October 2024, only weeks before the Second Reading of the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill in Westminster.
Given the Senedd’s opposition to assisted suicide being made legal in Wales, today’s motion will make House of Lords scrutiny of the Bill even more important, with campaigners calling on Peers to listen to Welsh concerns and be mindful of the Senedd’s rejection of assisted suicide in October 2024.
Tactics employed today by the Bill sponsors, Kim Leadbeater and Lord Falconer, seemingly “blackmailing” Labour Senedd Members to support the motion with threats about forcing a private assisted suicide service on Wales, have been heavily criticised online.
WESTMINSTER BILL UNLIKELY TO COMPLETE ALL STAGES IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS
For assisted suicide to be implemented in Wales, Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill still needs to become law, and it is now increasingly likely that the Bill will not complete all stages in the House of Lords and become law during the current Parliamentary session.
Polling shows that 70% of the public who expressed a view believe Peers should be able to vote against a Private Members’ Bill, like the assisted suicide Bill, if they believe it would harm vulnerable people.
The House of Lords Constitution Committee and Hansard Society have both confirmed that Peers are constitutionally free to reject the Bill. As the Bill is not a Government Bill and was not in any party’s election manifesto, there is no convention requiring the Lords to pass it.
SCOTLAND BILL ON A KNIFE EDGE
While the Scottish Bill passed its first hurdle at Stage 1 last year, the vote was far closer than many commentators expected. The Telegraph has published an analysis which indicates that more than 20 MSPs who initially voted for the Bill have indicated they could vote against it at the final vote at Stage 3.
Audrey Nicoll MSP, who voted for the Bill at Stage 1, has already indicated that she will jump ship and vote against it at Stage 3. It is expected that others who previously voted for the Bill will join her in moving to oppose the Bill in the coming weeks.
Given that the Bill narrowly passed by only 14 votes at Stage 1, if just seven MSPs switch their stance from supporting to voting against the Bill, it will be defeated at the Stage 3 vote.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Member of the House of Lords, Thérèse Coffey, said:
“With the LCM now approved, Wales faces a Westminster-designed assisted dying regime imposed upon it. It is clear that funding and resources will be diverted from palliative care to implement a service previously rejected by the Senedd. This amounts to assisted dying via the back door.”
“Introducing it through the Welsh NHS risks more vulnerable people opting for assisted death out of fear of long waiting lists, particularly if doctors are placed under a legal duty to raise it as an option.”
“This represents a blatant disregard for devolution and is undemocratic.”
Catherine Robinson, spokesperson for Right To Life UK, which campaigns against assisted suicide and in support of better access to palliative care, said:
“A Legislative Consent Motion is required under the devolution settlement where UK legislation would extend into devolved areas in Wales.”
“As supporters of the motion made clear, the vote was not on whether assisted suicide should be made legal in Wales, it was a vote on a narrowly worded motion regarding the implementation of assisted suicide in Wales, should it become law.”
“When it comes to the question of whether assisted suicide should be made legal in Wales, the Senedd decisively voted against assisted suicide in October 2024, just weeks before the Second Reading of the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill in Westminster.”
“Given the Senedd’s opposition to assisted suicide being made legal in Wales, today’s motion will make House of Lords scrutiny of the Bill even more important, with campaigners calling on Peers to listen to Welsh concerns and be mindful of the Senedd’s rejection of assisted suicide in October 2024.”
“The tactics employed today by the Bill sponsors, seemingly blackmailing Labour Senedd Members to support the motion with threats about forcing a private assisted suicide service on Wales, were profoundly disturbing.”
“How can we trust assurances there won’t be coerced assisted suicides when bullying tactics are used to pressure parliamentarians to support a Bill they don’t want? Does the Government approve of this approach to devolution, depriving its MSs of expressing their own voice for Wales?”
ENDS
- For additional quotes and media interviews contact 07774 483 658 or email press@righttolife.org.uk
- For further information on Right To Life UK visit www.righttolife.org.uk
