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Politics latest: Government to hold emergency COBRA meeting on Israel-Iran; MPs debate assisted dying

The prime minister calls on "all parties" to "reduce tensions urgently" after Israeli strikes on Iran, adding that "now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy". In Westminster, MPs are debating the Assisted Dying Bill, which you can watch live below.

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Watch live: MPs debate the assisted dying bill

Away from the UK political reaction to the conflict in the Middle East, the big story domestically today is the return of the assisted dying bill to parliament.

MPs are debating the bill and amendments that backbenchers have proposed for it over the next few hours. 

You can watch and follow this debate on Sky News' YouTube. 

Of course, we'll bring you all the highlights right here on the Politics Hub.

MP calls for assisted dying timeframe to be scrapped due to fears the process could be 'rushed'

The assisted dying bill currently says that the service should be available to patients within four years. 

But an MP has said this proposed deadline should be scrapped, as he fears it could lead to the first cases of assisted dying happening "regardless of how far along the plans and preparations are".

Labour's Adam Jogee said: "The last thing we should be doing is rushing this process".

Instead, his amendment 42 to the bill would mean ministers must make a commencement order before patients can access assisted dying. 

The amendment has not been added to the bill yet, but has the backing of more than 60 cross-party MPs.

One death because of a rushed decision would be one too many

Jogee explained to the Commons that a deadline means patients must be granted access to the service "regardless of how far along the plans and preparations are" in terms of the drugs used, the identification and training of those on the panel assessing patients, the impact on the NHS and budgets, among other things.

So, Jogee said: "Let鈥檚 not impose a timeframe that puts us in a bind and means we are driven by timing over purpose, and the pressure that comes with a ticking clock rather than by doing it properly."

"One death because of a rushed decision would be one too many.

UK 'not innovators' - so assisted dying should be implemented sooner

By contrast, Lib Dem MP Tom Gordon has proposed shortening the time assisted dying is implemented to three years, speeding up the rollout.

His amendment is because he believes the "status quo is not acceptable" and people are having to travel abroad for assisted dying. 

Addressing criticisms this would be rushed, he told the Commons: "We're not innovators, we're not leaders in the field.

"There is no reason that we can't take best practice and learn and speak to colleagues around the world."

Rival campaigners hold protests outside of parliament, as assisted dying bill debated

Groups of campaigners both for and against legalising assisted dying have gathered outside of parliament, to call on MPs to act.

Those in favour of assisted dying are currently in Parliament Square as the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill is being debated in the Commons. 

The bill is undergoing a second day of report stage, where various amendments to the proposed legislated are being discussed and voted on.

It comes ahead of the bill's third reading next week, where it is expected MPs will have to decide whether to continue passing it or whether to vote against it and end its journey through parliament.

The Campaign for Dignity in Dying is calling for the bill to become law. 

By contrast, those opposed to the bill are also in Parliament Square, calling on the government not to turn the NHS into the "national suicide service".

They warn that elderly or vulnerable people could feel pressured into assisted dying or be wrongly permitted to end their own life with an incorrect terminal diagnosis or prediction of how long they have left to live.

We're bringing you all the notable updates from the debate on assisted dying in the Commons right here on the Politics Hub, so scroll down to see what's been said so far.

Former Tory MP and Rishi Sunak aide arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court

People who gambled on the date of the 2024 General Election are appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court today. 

In total, 15 individuals have been charged with offences under the Gambling Act 2005, following an investigation into alleged cheating related to bets placed on the timing of last year's vote.

First to be seen arriving at the court is Craig Williams, a former Tory MP who was also an aide to the former PM Rishi Sunak.

MP calls for assisted dying ads on TikTok to be banned as part of tighter restrictions

An MP has called for tighter restrictions on advertising around proposed assisted dying.

Labour's Paul Waugh has proposed an amendment to an amendment by his colleague Kim Leadbeater, which is on advertisement.

His amendment would mean restrictions on advertising over assisted dying could only be changed in the future with an act of parliament. 

Waugh warned that he wants to restrict advertising because it could be "crass or insensitive", because private companies "can profit from death" and because "advertisers know they influence choices".

Watch: Doctors are split over assisted dying

He explained: "Advertising works because we human beings are suggestible.

"Older people are bombarded with adverts for everything from stairlifts to care homes. One person鈥檚 advert, though, is another person鈥檚 public information campaign.

"Many in this House rightly try to protect teenagers from online harms. But the online harm of an ad for a website about assisted dying shared on TikTok could be a reality without the tighter safeguards in my amendment."

Doctors who deny patients an assisted death must explain their reasons in writing

Kim Leadbeater has also managed to get another amendment backed by the Commons and added to her assisted dying bill.

The backbench MPs new clause 12 means that doctors who deny their patient an assisted death would have to set out their decision in a report and file it with a GP and the voluntary assisted dying commissioner, a new role that is being created.

Specifically, doctors would have to do this if the patient does not have the "capacity" to end their own life, is being coerced or does not have a "clear, settled, and informed wish to end their own life".

Government will hold a COBRA meeting today, following Israeli strikes on Iran

The government will hold a COBRA meeting today following events in the Middle East, Sky News understands.

It follows Israel bombing dozens of military targets in Iran overnight, including nuclear facilities.

Earlier today, the prime minister called on "all parties to step back and reduce tensions urgently".

He added that the government is "engaging partners to de-escalate" and that "now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy".

Doctors must give notice if they don't want to be involved in assisted dying

Kim Leadbeater has successfully amended her assisted dying bill.

The MP, who proposed the bill, has successfully got the House to accept clause 11.

This means that doctors who back out of the assisted dying process, or who are away, would have to give notice of their decision.

It also means that patients would be given a clear path on how to find a replacement. 

Legal challenges to VAT on private school fees dismissed by the High Court

 A group of private schools, pupils and their parents have lost a number of High Court challenges to the government's decision to impose VAT on school fees.

The legal challenges were brought against the Treasury on the basis that applying the tax is discriminatory and incompatible with human rights law. 

The groups fighting the government included children and families at faith schools, and families who have sent their children with special educational needs (SEN) to private school.

The Treasury defended the challenges, with HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Education (DfE) also taking part.

Watch: Sir Keir Starmer said that private schools 'will adapt' to the tax last year

The High Court was told that as well as religious beliefs and SEN, some children are privately educated because of a need for a single-sex environment because of previous abuse, or because they are only temporarily in the UK and need to be educated in line with their home national curriculum.

However, Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Treasury, HMRC and the DfE, said abolishing the VAT exemption for private school fees was a prominent policy in Labour鈥檚 manifesto at the last general election and is expected to yield between 拢1.5 and 拢1.7 billion per year.

Judges said they had to consider the interests of those in state schools 

This morning, three judges at the High Court dismissed the three challenges in a decision given on Friday.

Dame Victoria Sharp, Lord Justice Newey and Mr Justice Chamberlain said in a 94-page decision that while the legislation does interfere with some of the group鈥檚 human rights, there is a "broad margin of discretion in deciding how to balance the interests of those adversely affected by the policy against the interests of others who may gain from public provision funded by the money it will raise".

'A disappointing decision', say families of the privately educated

Reacting to the decision, Sophie Kemp, who represented the claimants, said it was a "disappointing decision" and that her clients are now "carefully considering the court's judgement".

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) said it was an "unprecedented tax on education" and that the council is now considering its "next steps".

Nobody should be obliged to take part in the assisted dying process, MPs agree

MPs have backed an amendment to the assisted dying bill, which says that no-one should be obliged to take part in the process. 

The opt-out has been added to the End of Life (Terminally Ill Adults) Bill after MPs called "aye" to the amendment this morning.

Lawmakers had previously debated and backed the amendment during another debate on the bill last month. 

Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the bill, also introduced the amendment. 

The new clause 10 sets out that "no person is under any duty" to participate in the process, including medical practitioners and pharmacists.

It means all NHS staff not wishing to be involved are protected against discrimination. Previously, the bill only said that doctors and health professionals could refuse - but the amendment now extends this to any person.

Foreign office minister confirms UK 'did not participate in the strikes overnight'

Hamish Falconer has confirmed that the UK was not involved in the Israeli military action against Iran overnight. 

The Middle East minister said the government is "engaging with partners to urge de-escalation".

He added: "Stability in the Middle East is essential for global security."