Published Article

HeadlineCampaigners react to MPs voting in favour of Assisted Dying Bill

Short HeadlineDivided reactions to the Assisted Dying Bill passing

StandfirstOutside the Houses of Parliament, campaigners gathered on Friday as they eagerly awaited the results on the Assisted Dying Bill.

Campaigners gathered outside the Houses of Parliament on Friday, protesting for and against the Assisted Dying Bill. Representatives from campaign group Dignity for Dying and Christian Concern shared their initial response to the bill passing.

Following weeks of debate, the results of the bill allowing terminally ill adults with six months to live assistance in ending their life, has been announced.

Those in favour of the bill were on the west of Parliament Square. Just before half past two, cheers erupted from those in pink shirts and hats provided by the Dignity in Dying group. There were tears of happiness, relief and joy.

It was announced that the House of Commons voted in favour of the terminally ill adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, with 330 MPs for and 275 against.

Under the bill, put forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, mentally competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales who have six months or less left to live would be allowed the right to end their lives with medical assistance.

City News spoke with campaigners who celebrated the result:

Priest The Rev. Cannon Valerie Plumb was formerly against the Bill. However, after caring for her mother with pancreatic cancer, she now campaigns for assisted dying.

I saw things that changed my life, my faith, everything. My mum was a good Christian woman, she said to me ‘Thou ain’t afraid of dying, but I am afraid of suffering. Please don’t make me suffer.’ I could not give her that gift. She died horribly and painfully…she deserved better.

The Rev. Cannon Valerie Plumb

Protesting just around the corner, campaigners from anti-assisted dying groups ‘Christian Concern’ and ‘Not Dead Yet UK’ voiced their opposition to the Bill.

They are joined by a towering puppet of a judge, holding a giant syringe and pointing a finger into the air as they chanted ‘Kill the bill, not the ill.’

Medical student, Jamie, campaigning on behalf of ‘Not Dead Yet UK’, explained why he came to protest against the Bill going through.

“The people who are the most vulnerable, people who are terminally ill or elderly, will be at risk from this bill and I think those of us who are healthy should stand up to them and say we want you to live, and we don’t want you to take your life through what is, actually, assisted suicide.”

What is good law, easy law? Do not Kill.

Andrea Williams, co-founder of Christian Concern

Social care professional and disability advocate George Fielding BEM acknowledges the complicated motivations behind the Bill.

I work within systems that I know are in need of great reform…what is being said that is that we will fund someone’s right to die, before we will fix and reform those key services.

I cannot allow and will not allow us to give up on the idea that reform of those services would enable and give everybody a better quality of life.

Andrea Williams, co-founder of ‘Christian Concern’ still expressed hope that the vote might not be successful through all stages of parliament.

“I believe that at third reading, this vote will go the other way,”

“We’ve seen many members of parliament change their mind, and I truly believe, with the cogency of these arguments, we’re going to see it change still more so it is not over.”

As the protests come to an end, Kim Leadbeater MP, proposer of the Bill addresses the crowd:

There’s a lot of work to do, there’s absolutely still a lot of work to do.

When the protests end, the puppet judge—once held high—now lies abandoned on the grass, finger to the sky.