Parliament should be allowed to fully consider a change in the law on assisted dying, a Tory former Cabinet minister has said.
Speaking at Westminster, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean argued the case for the Government to introduce draft legislation that would enable terminally ill, mentally competent adults to legally end their own lives with medical assistance, with the aim of enabling politicians to debate the contentious issue.
The Conservative peer pointed out a backbench bill, introduced to the Lords by independent crossbencher Baroness Meacher, which would give patients with only months to live the right to die by taking life-ending medication, was destined to fail due to “wrecking” moves by opponents.
With around 200 amendments tabled it faces running out of legislative time.
Lord Forsyth made his comments as the upper chamber continued its detailed line-by-line scrutiny of the Health and Care Bill.
Putting forward his proposal, he said: “My amendment is not, absolutely not, about the merits of the case for legalising assisted dying. What it is about is trying to ensure that this Parliament is given the same opportunities as the Scottish Parliament to consider these matters carefully.
“There are people in this debate who are determined to prevent Parliament from being able to make a decision and that cannot be right. Consistently opinion polls have shown that something like three out of four people in our country would like to see legislation in this area and I do think it is quite wrong to try and deny Parliament the opportunity to carry that out.”
Criticising the Government’s stance, Lord Forsyth said: “It is not a neutral position… to persist in a position which means that any Bill which is introduced is going to fail and which prevents Parliament from reaching a view. A neutral position is a position which says, ‘We will allow Parliament to take a view and we as a Government will not actually promote or oppose it, but will give the opportunity for Parliament to do so’.”
Supporting him, Labour peer Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town said: “By failing to allow a full debate and a decision in Parliament, Government is effectively siding with those who want no change. That is not a neutral position.
“What’s important about this is that we do allow Parliament to decide. I can only think that those that have turned up and want to oppose this are actually afraid that Parliament will decide that it wants change.”
But Tory peer Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie believed the proposal “may be the wrong amendment in the wrong Bill”.
However, Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Walmsley said: “I think it’s a discussion whose time has come.”
Tory former health minister Lord Bethell argued “the time was right to have this debate”, adding: “It is right that the inconsistencies and delicacies of this issue are tackled by the Government and by the Government soon.”
DUP peer Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown said he “profoundly disagreed” with Lord Forsyth’s position.
He said: “Over this past two years this nation has been fighting to save life not to take it. An assisted suicide law however well intended would alter society’s attitude towards the elderly, seriously ill and disabled, sending a message that assisted suicide is an option they ought to consider.”
Labour frontbencher Baroness Merron said: “Such an important legislative change as proposed in this amendment would need to be its own topic, in its own Bill. Because I don’t feel that any steps towards such a monumental change should be added via an amendment to a Bill, which concerns itself entirely with other matters.
“Whatever the views on assisted dying and however strongly held those views are I do believe the House should do justice to it, but that this Bill does not provide that opportunity.”
Responding, health minister Lord Kamall said: “It is a long-standing position that any change to the law on assisted dying is a matter for Parliament to decide rather than one for Government policy. Assisted dying remains a matter of individual conscience on which there are deeply held and very sincere views on all sides.”
He committed to speak to the Lords chief whip about making time available for Lady Meacher’s private member’s bill.
Lord Forsyth stated his intention to bring back his amendment at report stage and press it to a vote.
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