The Lords last night rejected a bid to allow relatives to help terminally ill people travel abroad to die, following an impassioned plea by a severely disabled peer.
Baroness Campbell of Surbiton, who was born with the wasting disease spinal muscular atrophy, told how doctors had persuaded her her life was at an end.
She said many would come under similar pressure from loved ones if the law was relaxed.
I have just been watching the debate over lunch on the Parliament Channel. There were some powerful speeches. Many of those in the House of Lords are getting to an age where this is all too pertinent. I think what swung it were speeches on the Swiss firm Dignitas and their commercial factory killing approach allegedly without proper support or counselling.
There was a good turn out from the CofE HOB [I saw at least 4 there] plus Lord Carey. I heard an impassioned and excellent speech from John Hind, Bishop of Chichester which caught the mood.
Lord Carlile [formerly a formidable barrister] really tipped it by showing what a badly drafted amendment Lord Falconer on behalf of the government had presented to the house – he shredded it.
Good for them
There is a real benefit, in a democracy like the UK without a formal Bill of Rights, in having an upper house where the members are not dependent on the ballot box, and do not feel quite so much pressure to conform their voting record to the prevailing mood in the masses and the mass media.
One can read what the bishops said:
Bishop of Exeter:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90707-0007.htm#09070764000130
Bishop of Chichester:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90707-0009.htm#09070783000055
[Credit to Simon Sarmiento for the links]
The bishops who voted against were: Chichester, Exeter, Liverpool, Newcastle, Southwell and Nottingham, and Lord Carey.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90707-0011.htm
What strikes me is that the issue was decided after a real debate. Our House and Senate don’t do that any more. They go through the motions, but minds are made up elsewhere. The speeches are only for the television value.
Good for these bishops.