Big majority of Peers speak out against assisted suicide

The majority of Peers who spoke during two days of Second Reading of the assisted suicide Bill were against the legislation.

In total today, 71 Peers spoke, with 42 speaking against the Bill, 25 in favour and 4 were undecided. Overall, during Second Reading, there were 161 speeches, with 96 speaking against, 53 in favour and 12 undecided.

The House of Lords has also approved the setting up of a select committee to give extra scrutiny to the Bill over six sittings between 20 October and 7 November.

The legislation will then go the a Committee of the Whole House for four sittings before Christmas.

Responding to the debate, CARE’s Director of Advocacy and Policy and Ex-MP, Caroline Ansell, said:

“The assisted suicide Bill, or ‘license to kill Bill’ as it was termed last week, has again been exposed as deeply and fundamentally flawed both in principle and in practice.

“For the second week in a row, a clear majority of Peers stood up at second reading to highlight the very real dangers in this seismic social change.

“They warned that if enacted, this Bill will see lives ended prematurely through subtle coercion and a lack of care and the absence of real choice.

"There were heartfelt stories told about end-of-life suffering, none more so than Lord Cashman’s own but hard cases make for bad law.

“During the debate, it was hard to hear how ending lives could so easily be seen as saving money and chilling that 'population control' was cited in the same speech as assisted suicide.

“For me, having represented Eastbourne and gone out on patrol with Beachy Head Chaplains, the stand-out speech was Lord Moore’s as he described their life-saving work at the cliff edge. This Bill, which asserts that some suicides are ‘dignified’, risks fatally undermining suicide prevention work all around the country.

“Under the weight of criticism and concern, one positive from today’s proceedings is that Bill supporters conceded the need for a new select committee to take 'missing' evidence.

“This is welcome as the more scrutiny this dangerous Bill is put under, the more Peers – and the Public - will see that facilitating ‘free choice’ for the few, will force choice on all.

"Under this proposed new law, once eligible for assisted suicide, you will have a choice to make. Do you choose to go on costing the NHS? Choose to be seen as or feel like a ‘burden’ on your loved ones? Chose to burn through your capital/their inheritance?

“This Bill has the power to change forever how we see life and each another.

There will come an opportunity for the Lords to vote on the legislation and when that happens, we urge them to vote it down.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For interview requests, further reaction, or background: james.mildred@care.org.uk / 07717516814

Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) is a social policy charity, bringing Christian insight to the policies and laws that affect our lives.

Recently, the Nuffield Trust published a report which highlighted the high costs of implementing assisted suicide.

At third reading in the House of Commons, MPs voted by 314-291 for the Bill.