THE Government's handling of life and death legislation has been condemned as "lamentable" by Wyre Forest MP Richard Taylor.

Dr Taylor confronted Tony Blair over the chaotic scenes, which accompanied the debate on the Mental Capacity Bill earlier this week.

The Bill, which was carried despite passionate cross-party opposition, will create "living wills" allowing people to refuse life-sustaining treatment in advance of such a time as they are incapacitated to make the decision.

Dr Taylor supported a revolt led by former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith which sought to prevent any act which led to the death of a patient amid fears that the bill would open the door to euthanasia.

But the debate descended into farce when it emerged ministers were holding secret talks with members of the Catholic church to whom it had made private assurances about the legislation.

Under intense pressure from MPs, junior constitutional affairs Minister David Lammy admitted that further changes would be made to the Bill when it reaches the House of Lords.