Committee members blame ‘toxic’ reaction on social media and attacks on those giving evidence in public hearings

MPs in favour of assisted dying have privately raised concerns about the number of colleagues reconsidering their support amid growing splits on the committee scrutinising new legislation.

One Tory source said they believed at least five Conservative MPs who had supported the bill at the last vote were likely to withdraw support at the next parliamentary stage. “If that translates across, I think we are looking at around 30 dropping out,” they said.