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A LONDON coroner’s “cab rank rule” for burials ignores the “deeply held beliefs” of Jewish and Muslim communities who require their dead be buried as soon as possible, the High Court heard yesterday.
Mary Hassell, the senior coroner for inner north London, established the policy that “no death will be prioritised in any way over any other because of the religion of the deceased or the family,” meaning all deaths in her jurisdiction are dealt with in the order they are registered.
The policy covers the boroughs of Camden, Islington, Hackney and Tower Hamlets, which have between them “sizeable Muslim and Jewish populations.”
Evidence to peers from medical leaders, patient safety officials and the children’s commissioner has intensified fears that the Bill’s safeguards are inadequate, writes ADAM JAMES POLLOCK
ANSELM ELDERGILL examines the difficulties surrounding freedom of expression
Once again Tower Hamlets is being targeted by anti-Islam campaigners, this time a revamped and radicalised version of Ukip — the far-right event is now banned by the police, but we’ll be assembling this Saturday to make sure they stay away, says JAYDEE SEAFORTH
GEOFF BOTTOMS, who has worked in a palliative care hospice for 11 years, argues the postcode lottery for proper end-of-life care must be ended to give the terminally ill choice and agency