Latest news with #RupaHuq
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee's short film screened at the House of Commons
Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee with others at the House of Commons for the screening of his short film HOME Interdisciplinary artiste Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee was recently invited to the House of Commons in the British Parliament for the screening of his short film HOME. The film is inspired by a poem by poet Arundhathi Subramaniam. The event drew a select, eclectic audience and was followed by an engaging discussion exploring the layered themes of the film and the global positioning of Bengali cinema. The session was chaired by MP Rupa Huq, who steered the dialogue alongside Jonathan Kennedy, Programme Lead of the Venice Biennale; Koushik Chatterjee, President of Bengal Heritage Foundation; and Suranjan Som. The screening prompted a rich exchange with attendees delving into the political undertones of the film and its relevance to diaspora narratives and cultural displacement. MP Rupa Huq moderating the screening Among the audience was Rohit K Dasgupta, assistant professor at The London School of Economics and Political Science, who highlighted the shifting content dynamics in Bengali cinema and the challenges of segment mapping within the industry. 'House of Commons is not only a prestigious venue but also the melting pot of British politics. I am glad my film has evoked some very important premises that relate to the diaspora and their expressions. It's not a gender war anymore but the battle of identity,' said Sujoy Prasad Chatterjee, reflecting on the reception of his film. Following this milestone, Chatterjee is set to continue his UK tour with a series of performances and cultural engagements across the country.
The Independent
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Esther Rantzen and terminally ill preacher make case for assisted dying Bill
A terminally ill Christian preacher has criticised the 'nonsensical' religious argument against assisted dying that suffering must be part of life, as Dame Esther Rantzen urged MPs to pass a Bill she said could 'transform the final days of generations in the future'. The broadcaster made a plea to parliamentarians on the eve of Friday's vote to change what she branded a 'current, cruel, messy criminal law'. The House of Commons will have a debate and vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, which will see it either progress to the House of Lords or fall completely. Dame Esther, a staunch supporter of Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, has been a prominent voice in the conversation on assisted dying. Last week, Labour MP and Bill opponent, Rupa Huq, pledged to be a voice for the voiceless, noting that the Childline founder and others' views are already well-known. She added: 'We know that Esther Rantzen wants this. We know (broadcaster) Jonathan Dimbleby wants this. 'But our role is to be voice of the voiceless as well.' Dame Esther, who is terminally ill with cancer, said the 'truly voiceless' are the terminally ill who face ' an agonising death' and their relatives. She told the PA news agency: 'This is a crucial debate for the truly voiceless. 'They are the terminally ill adults for whom life has become unbearable and who need assistance, not to shorten their lives but to shorten an agonising death – and their loved ones who under the current law will be accused of committing a crime if they try to assist or even stay alongside to say goodbye. 'These are the truly vulnerable and voiceless who depend on our lawmakers to change our current, cruel, messy criminal law. 'All this Bill allows is choice for desperately ill adults who are dying anyway but want the confidence of knowing that they can ask for help to choose what we all hope for; a quick, pain-free death with good memories left behind as their legacy for those they love. 'Please allow us terminally ill the dignity of choice over our own deaths. A change in the law cannot come in time for me, but will transform the final days of generations in the future. Those who disagree with assisted dying under the new law will have the right to their own choice, please allow the rest of us to have the same right.' Dame Esther's words came as a group of terminally ill and bereaved people shared their stories at a press briefing alongside the Labour Bill sponsor, Ms Leadbeater, on Thursday. Church of England lay preacher Pamela Fisher, who is terminally ill with cancer, made an impassioned speech against the religious arguments made by some who oppose assisted dying. She said: 'I completely reject the assumption that the sanctity of life requires terminally ill people to undergo a distressing and painful death against their will. I disagree with those that say it is God alone who decides how and when we die. 'Yes, life is a gift from God to be honoured, but it's nonsensical to say that assisted dying is wrong because suffering is part of God's plan for us.' The Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols – who is opposed to assisted dying – has previously argued that the suffering of human beings is 'an intrinsic part of our human journey, a journey embraced by the eternal word of God, Christ Jesus himself'. Meanwhile, Anil Douglas, whose father took his own life having suffered with multiple sclerosis, recalled the trauma of finding him. He said a six-month police investigation followed, and told the press conference: 'The law in this country failed my father.' He added: 'The (current) law leads people like my father to make lonely and dangerous decisions. It does not protect against coercion. It does not offer protections or choice for dying people. 'It does not offer terminally ill, mentally competent adults with six months or less to live, the chance to choose a safe and compassionate death when even the very best palliative care is not enough. It leads to lonely, dangerous, traumatic deaths.' Bill opponents have argued it is not robust enough to protect the most vulnerable against coercion, and others who might choose assisted dying because they feel they are a burden. The proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Esther Rantzen and terminally ill preacher make case for assisted dying Bill
A terminally ill Christian preacher has criticised the 'nonsensical' religious argument against assisted dying that suffering must be part of life, as Dame Esther Rantzen urged MPs to pass a Bill she said could 'transform the final days of generations in the future'. The broadcaster made a plea to parliamentarians on the eve of Friday's vote to change what she branded a 'current, cruel, messy criminal law'. The House of Commons will have a debate and vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, which will see it either progress to the House of Lords or fall completely. Dame Esther, a staunch supporter of Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, has been a prominent voice in the conversation on assisted dying. Last week, Labour MP and Bill opponent, Rupa Huq, pledged to be a voice for the voiceless, noting that the Childline founder and others' views are already well-known. She added: 'We know that Esther Rantzen wants this. We know (broadcaster) Jonathan Dimbleby wants this. 'But our role is to be voice of the voiceless as well.' Dame Esther, who is terminally ill with cancer, said the 'truly voiceless' are the terminally ill who face ' an agonising death' and their relatives. She told the PA news agency: 'This is a crucial debate for the truly voiceless. 'They are the terminally ill adults for whom life has become unbearable and who need assistance, not to shorten their lives but to shorten an agonising death – and their loved ones who under the current law will be accused of committing a crime if they try to assist or even stay alongside to say goodbye. 'These are the truly vulnerable and voiceless who depend on our lawmakers to change our current, cruel, messy criminal law. 'All this Bill allows is choice for desperately ill adults who are dying anyway but want the confidence of knowing that they can ask for help to choose what we all hope for; a quick, pain-free death with good memories left behind as their legacy for those they love. 'Please allow us terminally ill the dignity of choice over our own deaths. A change in the law cannot come in time for me, but will transform the final days of generations in the future. Those who disagree with assisted dying under the new law will have the right to their own choice, please allow the rest of us to have the same right.' Dame Esther's words came as a group of terminally ill and bereaved people shared their stories at a press briefing alongside the Labour Bill sponsor, Ms Leadbeater, on Thursday. Church of England lay preacher Pamela Fisher, who is terminally ill with cancer, made an impassioned speech against the religious arguments made by some who oppose assisted dying. She said: 'I completely reject the assumption that the sanctity of life requires terminally ill people to undergo a distressing and painful death against their will. I disagree with those that say it is God alone who decides how and when we die. 'Yes, life is a gift from God to be honoured, but it's nonsensical to say that assisted dying is wrong because suffering is part of God's plan for us.' The Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols – who is opposed to assisted dying – has previously argued that the suffering of human beings is 'an intrinsic part of our human journey, a journey embraced by the eternal word of God, Christ Jesus himself'. Meanwhile, Anil Douglas, whose father took his own life having suffered with multiple sclerosis, recalled the trauma of finding him. He said a six-month police investigation followed, and told the press conference: 'The law in this country failed my father.' He added: 'The (current) law leads people like my father to make lonely and dangerous decisions. It does not protect against coercion. It does not offer protections or choice for dying people. 'It does not offer terminally ill, mentally competent adults with six months or less to live, the chance to choose a safe and compassionate death when even the very best palliative care is not enough. It leads to lonely, dangerous, traumatic deaths.' Bill opponents have argued it is not robust enough to protect the most vulnerable against coercion, and others who might choose assisted dying because they feel they are a burden. The proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist.
The Guardian
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
MPs back bill changes to prevent medics raising assisted dying with under-18s
Medics would not be allowed to raise assisted dying as an option with under-18s, and advertising it would be banned under changes backed by MPs on Friday before a final vote expected next week. The Commons voted on amendments to the assisted dying bill, which would legalise the option for terminally ill adults in England and Wales who have been told they have fewer than six months to live. The final Commons vote is scheduled on 20 June, with support and opposition finely balanced – and growing scrutiny over timelines, loopholes and who would ultimately deliver the system. A majority of MPs approved a clause tabled by Labour MP Meg Hillier, an opponent of the bill, to ensure health professionals cannot raise the topic of assisted dying with under-18s. A separate amendment from Hillier to bar health workers from bringing up assisted dying with adult patients before they have raised it themselves was voted down. There were impassioned interventions from both sides of the debate. Rupa Huq, the Labour MP for Ealing Central, said the cost-of-living crisis would make assisted dying 'quite attractive' to people who were struggling. 'We know that BAME communities have lower disposable household income than standard households, and you can just imagine relatives in a housing crisis wanting to speed up grandad's probate to get a foot on the ladder, or granny or nanny, ma or daddy even convincing themselves that, 'look, they'd be better off out of the way given the cost of care,'' Huq said. Caroline Voaden, the Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, recalled the death of her husband, who she said had been 'in extreme pain' with terminal oesophageal cancer, and urged her colleagues to 'mind our language' after words like 'murder' were used. 'This is about helping people die in a civilised way and helping their families not go through a horrendous experience of watching a loved one die in agony,' Voaden said. MPs voted in favour of a proposal by Kim Leadbeater, who is sponsoring the bill, to ban advertisements about assisted dying. But they rejected a separate proposal from Labour MP Paul Waugh for tighter regulations which would have limited exceptions on Friday's amendments. Waugh said he hoped that 'enough MPs now realise that it is not fit for purpose'. The bill passed its first stage by a majority of 55 in November. Since then more than a dozen are thought to have switched sides to oppose the bill, though at least three have moved to support it. A number of other amendments were passed on Friday, including a provision for assisted dying deaths to not automatically be referred to a coroner and an attempt to regulate substances for use in assisted dying. Demonstrators for and against a change in the law gathered outside parliament to make their views known. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Opening the debate, Leadbeater said it was not about a choice between assisted dying or palliative care. 'Palliative and end-of-life care and assisted dying can and do work side by side to give terminally-ill patients the care and choice they deserve in their final days,' she said. As it stands, the proposed legislation would allow terminally-ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. MPs are entitled to have a free vote on the bill and any amendments, meaning they vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines. The government is neutral on the legislation. Stephen Kinnock, a health minister, said there had been more than 90 hours of parliamentary time spent debating the proposals so far, and more than 500 amendments had been considered at committee stage earlier this year.
