Shropshire MPs Deliberate on Assisted Dying Bill Ahead of Vote

Shrewsbury’s Labour MP Julia Buckley has acknowledged the gravity of Friday’s impending vote on the assisted dying bill. Ahead of the bill’s initial debate and vote in the House of Commons, she stated, “I don’t want to get it wrong.” Backbench MP Kim Leadbeater has put forth a new legislative proposal that would grant terminally ill individuals in England and Wales the option to choose to end their lives. Members of Parliament from Shropshire have shared their perspectives on the bill in advance of the vote. Last weekend, Buckley organized two coffee mornings: one for those who supported some form of assisted dying, and another for those who opposed it. More than 100 people attended these gatherings at Shrewsbury Baptist Church. “On a personal level I am neutral, I still haven’t made up my mind,” she commented. Buckley explained, “More than 300 residents have contacted me about this so I held the coffee mornings so I could listen to my constituents and see how I could best represent them.” The purpose was to keep the groups separate, allowing participants a safe environment to speak freely. She further added, “When I vote, I will make sure I speak in the House of Commons chamber to raise the comment of the people on the other side of the argument so they still get their views fed in.” Stuart Anderson, the Conservative MP for South Shropshire, has declared his intention to vote against the proposed legislation, which is officially known as The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. He indicated his appreciation for the strong sentiments on both sides of the discussion but voiced concerns regarding the potential coercion of vulnerable individuals. In a statement issued to the BBC, he asserted, “We should treat all human life with equality and sanctity, so I do not want the law to treat anyone differently because of illness.” He continued, “Safeguards could never be strong enough to prevent vulnerable people from feeling coerced into dying.” Anderson also expressed his apprehension, stating, “I am also concerned about the scope of assisted dying being extended, as has been the case elsewhere. Research sadly shows that when a country legalises assisted dying, improving of end-of-life care slows.” He concluded, “I want our focus to be on giving the very best medical care to those who are unwell.” Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, generally supports a change but will not commit to a new law until the proposal has been thoroughly debated and scrutinized in Parliament. She stated: “Whilst my general view is to support the right to allow people to die with dignity, the context of a failing health and care system makes the debate much more complex, and a more difficult decision for MPs.” Morgan emphasized the critical need for MPs to properly scrutinize the full details and ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place before the law is altered. She added: “It is important that we see reassurances that the strict criteria laid out in the bill will work in practice.” Telford’s Labour MP Shaun Davies remarked, “I genuinely haven’t made my mind up yet.” He added, “I’m probably leaning towards supporting it [the bill], but I want to listen to the debate.” The former council leader has reservations concerning safeguarding and the possibility of terminally ill individuals feeling pressured to end their own lives. He said: “I’m particularly concerned about the six month diagnosis for terminal illness, because the doctors that I’ve spoken to are divided as to whether or not they can tell with any degree of certainty if somebody has six months to live.” Davies further noted, “Also, where money is tight, somebody might want to bring their own life to an end to save on care fees.” Davies indicated that he would reserve his right to vote against the legislation at a later stage if safeguarding provisions were not enhanced. For additional information, BBC Shropshire is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Details regarding its approach to external linking are accessible.