Yesterday was a dark day not merely for England and Wales, but for humanity. The nation which gave the world equality before the law and parliamentary democracy saw its parliament vote for state-sanctioned murder. MPs voted in support of the principle of Kim Leadbeater MP’s assisted suicide Bill.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill intends to allow those in England and Wales deemed to be terminally ill and with less than six months to live to receive help to kill themselves. MPs have now voted by 330 to 275 in favour of legalisation.
The backbench MP’s Private Member’s Bill will now proceed to Committee Stage, where it will be considered further.
The Christian Institute’s Director Ciarán Kelly told Christians not to give up on challenging the dangerous proposals: “It’s deeply disappointing that the Commons has agreed to endorse this dangerous and divisive Bill. I’m grateful to the many MPs who spoke and voted against it, and the fight is not over.
“We know that the more people know about assisted suicide, the less they like it. Those MPs who supported the principle of the Bill but have concerns about its practical implications must now take the time to scrutinise it properly. They will find the promised safeguards are nothing more than a mirage.
“They will have a further opportunity to vote against the Bill before it clears the Commons and if it does go to the House of Lords, it is by no means guaranteed to pass there.