Current issues you might consider

Assisted Suicide Bill

Committee stage of Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill has begun. As you may have read in media reports, there are serious concerns with how her Committee has conducted its scrutiny so far. Around double the number of witnesses selected by Kim Leadbeater to give evidence supported assisted suicide than the number who opposed it. At the same time, important voices were excluded from the oral evidence sessions including the Government’s chief Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisor, the British Geriatrics Society and a number of disability rights groups, senior palliative care doctors and legal experts with relevant expertise.

Among the large number of ‘experts’ presenting who supported assisted suicide, many made disturbing recommendations. One suggested it should be a criminal offence to seek to dissuade a loved one from pursuing assisted suicide. Multiple ‘experts’ expressed their view that ‘feeling a burden’ is a legitimate reason to seek assisted suicide. 

Astonishingly, one fanatical pro-assisted suicide Australian MP, invited by Kim Leadbeater to give evidence, took the redefining of language to new lengths, hoodwinking MPs that assisted suicide "is a form of suicide prevention".

It is vital that we highlight these serious problems with the conduct of Committee stage to MPs. I have included a short newsletter announcement to encourage your parishioners to write to their MPs.

Assisted suicide committee bias

Committee stage of Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill has begun, raising serious concerns about its conduct.

• The Committee has been ‘stacked’ with a higher number of MPs who support the Bill

• Nearly twice as many witnesses supported assisted suicide than the number who opposed it

• Important voices have been excluded, including the Government’s chief Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisor, the British Geriatrics Society and a number of disability rights groups, senior palliative care doctors and legal experts with relevant expertise.

MPs must be aware of the serious issues in the scrutiny of Kim Leadbeater’s Bill. It’s vital they know your concerns and vote against it at Third Reading. 

Please take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/ASBillAction to write to your MP - it takes just 30 seconds!