People take part in a demonstration at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, London, to oppose the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. A proposed law to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales has cleared its first parliamentary hurdle after MPs vote
MPs’ vote in favour of the End of Life (Terminally Ill Adults) Bill does not settle the matter, but puts Britain on a dangerous path given our broken health and social care system and a recently revived government propaganda war on people receiving social security.
Nothing in this country’s recent history nor in Labour’s programme suggests the danger of people being put under pressure to end their lives will diminish. Those risks must be front and centre of left campaigning as the Bill proceeds.
This moment must also underline the urgency of building a campaign to remove private interests from the NHS and properly resource it, to address the scandalous cost of social care and invest in a better quality of life for the disabled and long-term sick.
