Senedd opposes assisted suicide motion

The Welsh Parliament has rejected a call for assisted suicide in England and Wales.

Last night, members of the Senedd voted against a motion that affirmed 'assisted dying' by 26 votes to 19, with nine abstentions. The First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, and Health Secretary Jeremy Miles were among those who opposed the move.

Senedd members don't have power to change the law but the non-binding motion was tabled as plans are due to be debated at Westminster. A Bill from Labour MP Kim Leadbeater would apply to Wales if it is supported by Westminster politicians in the coming months.

The defeated motion proposed that adults suffering "intolerably" from an incurable condition should have access to "assisted death". But opponents warned that a Bill in the House of Commons could lead to further liberalisation of the law and harm vulnerable groups.

Plaid Cymru South Wales East MS Delyth Jewell said: “My fear with this motion, my terror is not so much with how it will begin but how it will end." She added: "For many disabled people or people who are not close to their family, people who are worried, anxious and lonely it would leave them to feeling they have no choice but to end their life."

North Wales MS Sam Rowlands, MS said it was a "slippery slope", saying: "It's a very, very real situation in other places all around the world, and I fear that that would be exactly the same in this country."

Whilst Clywd West MS Darren Millar, said: "Legalising assisted suicide would send a clear message that some lives are not worth living".

He added: "I don't think that that's a message that any civilised society, frankly, should be promoting to any of its citizens, especially when there are many people across Wales right now who are enjoying a fulfilling life in spite of their terminal illness or in spite of a debilitating condition."