Thank you to the many constituents who have contacted me in relation to the vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which is due to be debated in Parliament today. I am truly grateful for everyone who has got in touch to share their views; their personal stories; and their position on this issue and the reasons for this. Please be assured I have read every single email and letter on this matter.
This has been an exceptionally difficult decision to reach.
My views
I appreciate that this is an issue where there are strongly held ethical and moral views. It is right that this matter is to be discussed, and that this has led to an important debate being held across the country. I have received a great number of representations on this issue, and these have been fairly balanced between those who wish to see this change, and those who do not. I have listened carefully to the views that have been expressed, and am grateful that the majority of those sharing their thoughts do so in good faith, recognising that all viewpoints are motivated by love and compassion, rather than anything else. My views, like many, are inevitably shaped in part by my own experiences of loss and grief. There is nothing so certain in life as death, and all of us deserve to die with dignity.
I believe that people have the right to personal freedom and liberty over their own bodies and that, provided that they are given adequate information and support, they should be able to make informed decisions on matters impacting their own body and life.
End of life decisions should be taken in full light of all information, with access to adequate care and support and without coercion from others. This should be an individual decision, and what is right for one person in one situation will not be the same for another person. Each person has the individual right to take their own decisions on what is right for them.
Additionally, I am concerned that currently it is the burden of the Criminal Prosecution Service to decide those cases that are murder or manslaughter, those that do represent the criminal offence of assisted suicide, and those where there should be no criminal charge at all without the proper legislative framework in doing so. It means currently decisions are shaped with the fear of exposing loved ones to legal risk. That, it strikes me, is not acceptable.
It is imperative however that there are proper safeguards in place to ensure that people have adequate information, are free from any real or perceived coercion and that assisted dying is not a substitute for high-quality palliative and end of life care. Each person nearing the end of their life should feel reassured and safe in the knowledge they will receive the very best care, and that this is a genuine choice.
The process
This Bill is not a Government Bill, this vote has been brought as a Private Members’ Bill. It has been brought by a backbench MP and is being voted on as a free vote, i.e. political parties are not taking a particular position, and MPs of the same party may well take differing positions.
Today will see the Second Reading of the Bill. This means there will be a debate and a vote on the principle of the Bill and whether the Bill should proceed to the next stage. If at this point a majority of MPs vote against, the Bill falls.
If a majority vote for it to proceed, it moves on to the ‘Committee Stage’. At this stage the Bill would be scrutinised and debated line by line before coming back for MPs to vote on the substantive legislation – the Third Reading.
After which, if a majority vote for the Bill, it goes to the House of Lords to consider further amendments and for their own votes, and would then come back to the House of Commons for a final vote of MPs.
My position for Second Reading
I will be supporting the Bill at Second Reading today as I believe that this should allow for further discussion and public debate on this issue, including whether the safeguards that are in place are adequate. This will enable the discussions to continue and additional scrutiny of the proposals, before a final decision and vote would be taken on Third Reading (should the Bill pass Second Reading) at which point I would consider the final legislation brought to the House.
Thank you again to residents who have contacted me on this issue and please be reassured that I appreciate and respect that there are very strongly held views on this issue.