
Temperatures rise in UK's assisted dying debate amid claims of ‘chaotic' process
UK's
landmark Bill to legalise
assisted dying
– known by its detractors as assisted suicide – gathered in different verdant corners of sunny Westminster on Friday as MPs debated inside the House of Commons.
Those supporting a change in the law to allow terminally ill patients in England and Wales to seek medical help ending their own lives gathered beneath an array of bright pink banners on the lawns of Parliament Square. 'My dying wish is dignity,' they said.
Around the corner, at the statue of King George V off Abingdon Street, opponents of the proposal struck a darker tone, holding mocked up headstones engraved with a warning about the apparent watering down of oversight of future assisted deaths: 'RIP – 'strictest safeguards in the world.''
Pink to support the right to die, and headstones for the sanctity of life. Therein was captured the incongruity of Britain's national conversation about the right, or otherwise, to an assisted death. Increasingly fraught and tetchy, the mood of the national debate was reflected inside the Commons chamber, as MPs grew frustrated as they ran out of time to speak.
READ MORE
It was originally thought MPs might get their final say on Friday on Labour MP Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which passed its crucial second reading in the Commons last November by 330 votes to 275.
But there have been so many amendments proposed since, the speaker of the House, Lindsay Hoyle, has kicked the crucial vote out until at least June 13th, and possibly later. Even then, many MPs on Friday complained the Bill was being rushed through parliament without proper scrutiny.
[
Assisted dying: Do we understand it properly?
Opens in new window
]
One Labour MP, Naz Shah, described the process as 'chaos . . . a disservice to parliament and our constituents. We shouldn't be playing games with people's lives like this.' She complained of only being told by Leadbeater that her amendment might be accepted when she arrived in the Commons that morning, leaving her no time to study the wording.
Prime minister
Keir Starmer's
government is ostensibly neutral on the Bill, although everybody knows that he favours it. He has granted a free vote, meaning MPs are not party whipped and can vote with their conscience.
As the government did not bring the Bill forward, it has been proposed as a private members' Bill by Labour backbencher, Leadbeater. This means, however, that it can only be scrutinised during the time set aside each week for private Bills, Friday mornings and afternoons until 2.30pm.
Opponents say such a landmark proposal should have been proposed by the government, allowing it to be scrutinised at greater length during government time in the parliamentary week. Supporters, meanwhile, believe they still have the numbers to push it through the House.
They must wait until next month to find out.
[
Assisted dying: 'If I cannot consent to my own death, who owns my life?'
Opens in new window
]
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


RTÉ News
8 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Von der Leyen arrives in Scotland ahead of talks with Trump
The European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen has arrived in Scotland ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump on an EU-UK trade agreement. Discussion are expected to get under way in the late afternoon, and have been described as a "final negotiating session". Upon his arrival, Mr Trump said that there was a 50:50 chance of striking a deal. Ms von Der Leyen landed in Glasgow last night and will make her way to Turnberry on the west coast, where she will meet with him. According to officials on the European side, there is optimism that a deal can be struck, but not certainty. Negotiators are understood to have taken talks to a point where it was now felt that the leaders had to agree on final concessions. Talks are expected to get underway at around 4pm this afternoon. If a deal is struck it will be an agreement in principle, with a final document issued at a later date. It is understood the deal will involve a baseline tariff of 15% on EU goods. However, should the leaders fail to reach an agreement the US has threatened to impose a 30% tariff rate from first of August. The European Union has also promised that reciprocal measures will follow. Yesterday, Mr Trump was spotted playing a round at the famous course, which he purchased back in 2014. A massive security operation was in place as the President played golf on the course. He drove his own golf buggy, but a heavy security presence saw Mr Trump flanked by a fleet of similar vehicles. Even before he took to the course, police officers and military personnel could be seen searching the area around the Trump Turnberry resort - which has had a metal fence erected around it as part of heightened security measures. No protesters were seen while he was golfing on Saturday - but hundreds of people gathered in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen for demonstrations against his visit organised by the Stop Trump Coalition. After spending some time at his South Ayrshire resort, Mr Trump will head to Aberdeenshire, where he is expected to open a second course at his Trump International golf resort in Balmedie. During his time in the north-east, Mr Trump is also due to meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney. Speaking ahead of the talks, Mr Swinney said it was his responsibility to "raise global and humanitarian issues of significant importance, including the unimaginable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza" with the US President. Saying he wanted to "ensure Scotland's voice is heard at the highest levels of government across the world" Mr Swinney added: "That is exactly what I will do when I meet with President Trump during his time in Scotland."


Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Irish Times
‘Cautiously optimistic': Trump officials hopeful of US-EU trade deal
Donald Trump will meet the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen as work gets under way on a five-day visit to Scotland. The US president flew into the country on Friday night and was then s een playing golf at his Trump Turnberry resort the following day. However, on Sunday, he will meet von der Leyen for talks on the trading relationship between Europe and the US. The talks come ahead of discussions with prime minister Keir Starmer on Monday, which are also expected to focus on trade issues. The UK and the US struck a trade deal recently, with discussions between the two men expected to focus on this, with reports suggesting Starmer will be looking for the US to cut the tariffs for British steel. The start of discussions show the US president getting down to business on what is a private, five-day visit to Scotland. On Saturday, he was spotted playing a round at the Turnberry course, which he purchased in 2014. A massive security operation was in place as he drove his own buggy. Even before he took to the course, police officers and military personnel could be seen searching the area around the resort, which has had a metal fence erected around it as part of heightened security measures. Police snipers are positioned on the roof of the Trump Turnberry hotel during US president Donald Trump's visit in Turnberry, Scotland. Photograph: Getty Images No protesters were seen while he was playing on Saturday, but hundreds of people gathered in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen for demonstrations against his visit, organised by the Stop Trump Coalition. Police Scotland said that no arrests were made but a 50-year-old woman was given a recorded police warning in Edinburgh. Trump has said there was a 50-50 chance that the US and the 27-member European Union could reach a framework trade pact, adding that Brussels wanted to 'make a deal very badly.' The EU faces US tariffs on more than 70 per cent of its exports, with 50 per cent on steel and aluminium, 25 per cent on cars and car parts and a 10 per cent levy on most other EU goods. Trump has said he would hike the rate to 30 per cent on August 1st, a level EU officials said would wipe out whole chunks of transatlantic commerce. Further tariffs on copper and pharmaceuticals are looming. A 15 per cent tariff on most EU goods would be seen by many in Europe as a poor outcome compared to the initial European ambition of a zero-for-zero tariff deal on all industrial goods. But it would be better than 30 per cent and it would remove uncertainty about business conditions that has already hit profits of European companies. For Trump a deal with the EU would be the biggest trade agreement, surpassing the $550 billion accord reached with Japan earlier this week. Trump, who is seeking to reorder the global economy and reduce decades-old US trade deficits, has so far reeled in agreements with Britain, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, although his administration has failed to deliver on a promise of '90 deals in 90 days.' The EU deal would be a huge prize, given that the US and EU are each other's largest trading partners by far and account for a third of global trade. While close, a deal still requires some final negotiations. US trade representative Jamieson Greer and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick departed Washington for Scotland on Saturday for talks with EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic, who is also travelling to Scotland, before the Trump-von der Leyen meeting. 'We're cautiously optimistic that there will be a deal reached,' said a Trump administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. 'But it's not over till it's over.' In case there is no deal and the US imposes 30 per cent tariffs from August 1st, the EU prepared countertariffs on 93 billion euros ($109 billion) of US goods. EU diplomats have said a possible deal would likely include a broad 15 per cent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, mirroring the US-Japan deal, along with a 50 per cent tariff on European steel and aluminium. Trump told reporters there was 'not a lot' of wiggle room on the 50 per cent tariffs that the US has on steel and aluminium imports, adding, 'because if I do it for one, I have to do it for all.' It remains unclear if Washington would exempt EU imports from other sectoral tariffs on automobiles, pharmaceuticals and other goods that have already been announced or are pending although EU officials are hopeful the 15 per cent baseline tariff would apply also to cars and pharmaceuticals. After spending some time at his South Ayrshire resort, Trump will head to Aberdeenshire, where he is expected to open a second course at his Trump International golf resort in Balmedie. During his time in the north east, Trump is also due to meet Scottish first minister John Swinney. Speaking ahead of the talks, Swinney said it was his responsibility to 'raise global and humanitarian issues of significant importance, including the unimaginable suffering we are witnessing in Gaza' with the president. Saying he wanted to 'ensure Scotland's voice is heard at the highest levels of government across the world' Swinney added: 'That is exactly what I will do when I meet with president Trump during his time in Scotland.' Mr Swinney announced that he met Ms von der Leyen on Saturday evening in Glasgow and discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Mr Swinney said: 'I was pleased to welcome the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to Scotland. 'During our meeting, I outlined Scotland's continued support for the European Union's leadership in demanding free and safe humanitarian aid in Gaza, alongside efforts to bring an end to the unbearable suffering unfolding. 'I also took the opportunity to reiterate Scotland's steadfast commitment to Ukraine and the country's commitment to work with European partners on key issues, including energy.' - Reuters and PA


Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Thousands fill Belfast streets for city's annual Pride parade
Thousands of people have filled the streets of Belfast for the city's annual Pride parade. Spectators lined the city's footpaths to cheer on the thousands who took part in the parade. Belfast Pride Festival is one of the biggest festivals in the city's calendar, with hundreds of events taking place. Organisers said it is the biggest cross-community parade in Belfast and is a protest and celebration of the lives of LGBT+ people. [ Don't expect votes for 16-year-olds to change the world. It's the 25-35s who are the rebels Opens in new window ] The theme for this year's event is 'no going back', as organisers said there must be 'no turning back from the advances made in visibility, legal protections and societal recognition'. Throughout the city, many people had rainbows painted on their faces, while others waved LGBT+ flags and held placards with equality messages written on them. People take part in the Belfast Pride Parade, in the city centre. The parade started in 1991 and over the last 30 years has grown to be the largest single parade in Northern Ireland. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire A series of groups and floats, representing up to 250 charities and organisations, took off from Custom House Square at 1pm. It made its way north of the city before making its way down Donegall Place and past City Hall before finishing at Victoria Street. Friends, work colleagues and many young families, including pet dogs, were among those in the crowd. People take part in the Belfast Pride Parade, in the city centre. The parade started in 1991 and over the last 30 years has grown to be the largest single parade in Northern Ireland. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Belfast Pride organisers took the decision to ask political parties to not attend the parade in an official capacity, after Stormont backed a ban on puberty blockers. The parade started in 1991 and over the last 30 years has grown to be the largest single parade in Northern Ireland. Ahead of the parade taking place, First Minister Michelle O'Neill tweeted: 'Happy Belfast Pride to everyone celebrating today, I hope it's filled with joy and love for you all. People take part in the Belfast Pride Parade, in the city centre. The parade started in 1991 and over the last 30 years has grown to be the largest single parade in Northern Ireland. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire 'Your courage over many years has helped transform our society for the better. 'As your First Minister, I'm committed to building a future where everyone in our LGBTQIA+ community is seen, valued, and treated equally. Be proud. Be you. Today and every day. 'Have a wonderful day.' - PA