LAST week was a strange one for democracy: the Welsh Senedd which had decisively voted against assisted dying in October 2024, narrowly voted in favour a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM).

Three Senedd Members from different political parties recently explained the reasons why they would not support the LCM.

Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds said it’s one of the hardest decisions she’s had to make: “I’ve listened to people on all sides, spoken with doctors, palliative care staff, disability rights groups, faith communities and legal experts, and tried to really sit with the arguments and the concerns.

“After all of that, I’ve decided that I can’t support the Legislative Consent Memorandum for this Bill.”

“I come to this as a Christian who believes in the sanctity of life, she added. “I also come to it as a former social worker, with years of experience alongside people who depend on others for care and support. What worries me most is whether this legislation would truly protect those people.

“One of my biggest concerns, like many people, is the state of palliative and end-of-life care in Wales. Too many people simply aren’t getting the care they need when they need it. Access can depend on where you live, who you are, or whether you can afford extra support — and that isn’t right.

“Many organisations that work closely with older people, disabled people, women, and minority ethnic communities have warned that pressure and coercion are often quiet and hard to spot. They don’t always look dramatic — they can show up as guilt, fear, loneliness, or feeling like a burden.”

Eluned Morgan (Labour) clarified that the vote was “restricted simply to the operation and delivery of assisted dying in Wales,” and added: “I personally still have reservations in relation to the Assisted Dying Bill and would not want the option of assisted dying being introduced in Wales in its current legislative form.”

Samuel Kurtz didn’t support the Memorandum either: “Given the significance and sensitivity of the issue, I do not believe that the necessary standards of examination and engagement have been met.

“Unfortunately,” he added, “thanks to support from the majority of Plaid Cymru and Labour Senedd Members, the LCM was passed.”

But the pendulum could easily swing back the other way, after new analysis by Right to Life UK’s public affairs team reveals that 131 Peers have either spoken against the Bill or signed amendments to it.