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Jeremy Corbyn has written to Labour MPs urging them to vote for changes to the law on organ donation that could save hundreds of lives.

Coventry MP Geoffrey Robinson (Lab Coventry North west) will present the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) for its second reading in the House of Commons on February 23.

It would change the law so that people are considered to have agreed to donate organs if they die, unless they have chosen to opt-out of the scheme.

Labour will not impose a whip on the vote, meaning MPs are free to make their own choice about whether to back the legislation or not.

But Mr Corbyn has thrown his personal weight behind it.

In a letter to Labour MPs, he said: "I am writing to encourage you to join me supporting our colleague Geoffrey Robinson's Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) private members bill when it will be debated after the February recess.

"I urge you to make time in your diary to support the bill, which is not whipped business, by being present in Parliament on the morning of Friday 23rd February."

He added: "The Government has announced a consultation on opt-out consent on organ donation, which is due to close on 6th March. Geoffrey's bill could be the vehicle to make change happen, but we need to ensure it receives a 2nd reading on 23rd February."

(Image: PA/Toby Melville)

At the moment, anyone willing to donate organs such as their heart, lung or kidney has to opt in via the registration and organ donor card scheme run by NHS Blood and Transplant.

A family member can also agree to the donation of organs if the person had not made their wishes known.

But there aren't enough organs being dondated.

In 2016, 457 people in England died while on the waiting list and another 875 became too poorly for transplant.

Supporters of an opt-out system say that many people not on the organ donor register would be happy for their organs to be used to save lives after their death.

The Government has launched a consultation looking at how an opt-out could work in practice, what safeguards would be necessary, and how families could be supported.

If Mr Robinson's Bill does not become law, a strong show of support for it might nonetheless encourage the Government to press ahead with its own changes.