Ahead of an historic vote in the Commons tomorrow, ex-minister Kit Malthouse issued an emotional last-ditch plea for colleagues to support the assisted dying Bill.
On Never Mind The Ballots, Mr Malthouse revealed he has first-hand experience spending time with dying Brits who suffer from “agony” and “pain”.
He argued the sick are increasingly turning to “violent” attempts at suicide because they can’t access a compassionate and regulated route to end their life in peace.
The top Tory said: “Over the last decade campaigning over this issue I’ve spent a lot of time with dying and bereaved people, and I’ve seen the horror show that people go through in the current status quo.
“We’ve got 650 people or so a year killing themselves in violent, brutal ways.
“There’s one person a week going to Switzerland to kill themselves who can afford it.
“We have a duty as a government to step in and regulate this, supervise it, bring safety for those people who are facing agony at the end of their lives.”
Mr Malthouse clashed with fellow senior Tory MP Danny Kruger, who told Never Mind The Ballots he is opposed to the assisted dying bill, introduced by backbench Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, because it doesn’t contain strong enough safeguards.
Mr Kruger also argued that the state should not be allowed to decide that “some people are better off dead” and added he’s concerned the NHS will encourage people to die early to prevent “bed blocking”.
He said: “I don’t think the Bill is drafted with sufficient safety and rigour to ensure that people who none of us would really expect to qualify for it would nevertheless be able to get this assisted death.
“That’s what happens around the world – people with eating disorders, with diabetes, with really treatable conditions are able to qualify because the concept of a terminal illness is so elastic.
“I’m also worried this will become something that the NHS wishes to do.
“If the NHS was worried about bed blocking, worried about the enormous expense that people have at the end of their lives in hospital (they could) be putting people onto this pathway to an assisted death.”
More than 160 MPs have requested to speak tomorrow in what will be just under five hours of Commons debate time.
A knife-edge vote will then determine whether the Bill proceeds to the next stage on its journey through parliament and possibly into law.
A survey by The Times of 508 MPs, over three quarters of those in the Commons, found that over half plan to vote in favour while 217 are against.
At least 26 MPs are expected to abstain while 140 are undecided or haven’t publicly revealed their view.
A poll by think tank More In Common last week found that two thirds of voters support the concept, with those who have lost a parent most likely to be sympathetic.
But almost three quarters of adults the NHS isn’t in a fit state to provide the service.
The PM, who has previously voiced support for assisted dying, has indicated he will take part in the vote but is yet to reveal which way he’ll go.
Cabinet big beasts opposed to the Bill also include Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Deputy PM Angela Rayner.
In favour are Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
