Ex Tory Minister attempting to force action on assisted suicide

A former Conservative Minister is attempting to compel the UK Government to bring forward assisted suicide legislation through a cynical amendment to health and care proposals.

Lord Michael Forsyth has lodged an amendment to the government's Health and Care Bill that would force Ministers to introduce legislation within a year of the Act being passed.

Speaking to his amendment this week, Lord Forsyth, who served in John Major's Cabinet, said parliamentary debate on the issue is being denied because a member's Bill on the issue is unlikely to progress.

Baroness Meacher's Assisted Dying Bill was introduced last year and has been discussed at length, with more than 100 Peers registering to speak in a second reading debate in October.

Criticising the amendment by Lord Forsyth, Conservative peer Baroness Fraser said it is “the wrong amendment in the wrong Bill”.

Labour frontbencher Baroness Merron added: “Such an important legislative change as proposed in this amendment would need to be its own topic, in its own Bill.

DUP peer Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown also said he “profoundly disagreed” with Lord Forsyth’s position:

"Over this past two years this nation has been fighting to save life not to take it. An assisted suicide law however well intended would alter society’s attitude towards the elderly, seriously ill and disabled, sending a message that assisted suicide is an option they ought to consider.”

Responding, health minister Lord Kamall said:

“It is a long-standing position that any change to the law on assisted dying is a matter for Parliament to decide rather than one for Government policy. Assisted dying remains a matter of individual conscience on which there are deeply held and very sincere views on all sides.”

James Mildred, Chief Communications Officer at CARE, commented:

“This attempt to hijack legislation designed to improve the NHS to usher in physician-assisted suicide is deeply cynical – particularly when member’s legislation on this issue is already before parliament. Campaigners are trying to introduce huge and controversial law changes via the back door.

“Evidence from overseas shows that introducing assisted suicide and euthanasia undermines the quality of healthcare available to people at the end of life. It results in pressure on the most vulnerable, and it undermines the dignity and equality of marginalised citizens.

“We hope Peers will see past this attempt to hijack government healthcare proposals and reject this amendment at the earliest possible stage.”

Lord Forsyth's amendment was not voted on at Committee stage this week, as is convention. However, it is likely to be pushed to a vote at Report in the coming weeks.