Letter: Public doesn’t want controversial UK assisted suicide bill to be forced through into law by Parliament
A letter from Catherine Robinson:
A new poll published from More In Common shows that the majority of the public does not support bypassing the House of Lords to force through the assisted suicide bill, as would occur if the Parliament acts were invoked in relation to the bill in the next parliamentary session as Lord Falconer has threatened.
Despite the polling including leading questions in favour of the bill, 54% of the public polled thought the bill should either not return or would have to pass both houses again - whereas only 46% of those polled thought the bill should bypass the House of Lords.
Taking this unprecedented route to bypass House of Lords scrutiny of a private members’ bill would be politically explosive.
The Parliament acts have never been used to force through a private members’ bill before, and this polling confirms the public does not support taking this deeply controversial route.
Any talk of using the Parliament acts to force this bill into law must now be put to rest.
Catherine Robinson, Spokesperson for Right To Life UK