Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me about assisted dying. This is a complex and emotive issue with strongly held ethical and moral views on both sides of the debate. I find myself with conflicting views. I believe personal autonomy is important and I can envisage a scenario in which I might wish to take a decision to end my own life. This prompts me to reflect that if I voted against the bill I might be denying others a right I would wish to have for myself. However, I am conscious that the very existence of that legal right could put pressure on some individuals or make them more susceptible to manipulation by others who would pressure them to take a decision to end their lives.
Successive governments, of both parties, have taken the position that the law on assisted suicide is a matter of conscience for individual MPs. The Prime Minister has confirmed that any change in the law on assisted dying will not happen via a Government Bill. A change can only be made via a Private Members’ Bill (PMB); that is a Bill introduced by a backbench MP or Peer. It is rightly a matter for individual MPs, rather than political parties, to decide the purpose of such Private Members’ Bills.
Such a Bill would be debated and refined on a cross-party basis with each Member free to speak and vote according to their own conscience. It would, of course, be scrutinised by both Houses of Parliament in turn. Therefore changing the law in this area would not be a quick process but one that gave time for reflection and a considered discussion of the issues raised.
In my view, if the law does change, it is vital that it also includes strong and proper safeguards. Furthermore, any reform should recognise the concerns that many people have, including those who support reform in principle, to try to achieve the widest possible consensus.
If the law were to change, I believe that assisted dying should not become an alternative to high-quality palliative and end of life care. People deserve dignity in dying, and each person nearing the end of their life should feel reassured and safe in the knowledge they will receive the very best care.
As your elected representative in Parliament, I assure you I will bear in mind the points you have raised and will be giving this issue an enormous amount of thought over the next few weeks up to the vote.
Thank you once again for contacting me about these matters.
Yours sincerely,
Barry Gardiner
Member of Parliament for Brent West