Stephen Kinnock
Labour
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I am very disappointed that Lauren Edwards has reintroduced the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (the Bill) in Parliament. I would ask you to vote against the Bill at Second Reading in September.
The Bill has many shortcomings and puts at risk people who are most vulnerable to coercion, pressure and depression, and particularly those with disabilities.
The Bill cannot be amended in the House of Commons if the sponsor of the Bill plans to use the Parliament Acts to force it onto the statute book. This limits the ability of MPs to scrutinise and amend the Bill, disrespects the role of MPs and dismisses the concerns of your constituents.
The medical Royal Colleges, although neutral on the principle of assisted dying/suicide, have expressed their opposition to the Bill which they consider to be unsafe. Moreover, around 80 amendments aimed at making the Bill safer were not even debated during Report Stage in the House of Commons. It is very irresponsible to bring the same Bill back unamended and use the Parliament Acts to force it onto the Statute Book.
With one-in-three people not getting all their palliative care needs met, the postcode lottery in palliative care should be addressed as a priority. Recent polling by Whitestone Insight shows that two-thirds (67%) of the public agree that “it is essential that high quality hospice and/or palliative care is universally available before any assisted suicide laws are passed”.
I would ask you to reflect on these concerns.
Thank you for all your work on behalf of constituents and in representing our local area.
With best wishes,
Dear Mr Kinnock,