Amid all the political noise in Westminster, which has been getting steadily louder in recent weeks in anticipation of a forthcoming election, it is easy to overlook progress on key issues.
This week we learned that there will be a vote on Assisted Dying in the next Parliament. Having been involved in this campaign since entering Parliament in 2015, I welcome this significant step forward. It is a big moment. I pay tribute to all those who have played their part in fighting for this campaign, including Shropshire resident Noel Conway, a motor neurone sufferer who died in 2021, and the many other campaigners and their families whom I have met or who have written to me.
Assisted Dying legislation would allow the terminally ill the right to choose a medically assisted death at the end of life, giving them control over the manner of their death. It has always been the case that campaigners have sought strong safeguards to protect those who are vulnerable or lack capacity and to ensure it is the terminally ill patient who is the decision maker. Opponents have often sought to characterise Assisted Dying as ‘state sponsored suicide,’ ignoring the critical need people have for choice, control, and dignity at the end of life.
I have spoken in debates, worked on cross party groups, asked questions in Parliament, met those with lived experience. I was a member of Parliament’s Health Committee, which held an inquiry and recently published its final report on this issue. I was able to get the inquiry on the Committee’s agenda. The combined pressure that was brought to bear through the media, petitioners and constituents led Party leaders to commit to a vote.
The UK Parliament has long been out of step with the public, the judiciary and even the Crown Prosecution Service on this. It is wrong to criminalise those who seek to minimise the suffering of loved ones and who act in accordance with their wishes. There is strong support for the law to be brought up to date; now Parliament will have the chance to put this right.
