Vote on assisted dying summons ultra-rare Commons sight: intelligent debate
The emotion on display during five hours of heated discussion speaks to the complexity and importance of the bill itself
This was the Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater’s bill so she got to talk first. Horror stories of people dying agonising deaths – deaths that no one would wish on their worst enemies. Jennie the guide dog snoozed in an aisle. Her dreams untroubled. She knew that when the time comes, her end will be painless and swift. Even if not of her conscious choosing.
Although there are good arguments on both sides, it's not a complex issue, the main point for each side may be stated in a single paragraph. However it is an opportunity to air a cascade of emotional anecdotes and imaginary scenarios. Political actors and comfort-zone media such as the Grauniad love all that.
The independent Adnan Hussain thought we had already started assisted dying by removing the winter fuel allowance. For the only time in the debate, cries of “shame” were heard.
Of course they cried "shame" - what a spoilsport.
No comments:
Post a Comment