Mailwatch(ed) Forum

I couldn't be bothered to read it, but I'm sure you're right.

Doesn't somebody think "they've had this argument already from Gordon Brown, Wes Streeting, Uncle Tom Cobbley, and Andy Burnham. Let's hit them with it again!"

https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 ... dying-bill

Andy Burnham to abstain on assisted dying bill to avoid influencing debate

Not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I’m pleased that he has explicitly said that he does not wish to influence anyone one way or the other on the bill when it comes up in September. I think it’s fairly well known that Burnham is opposed to choice at life’s end, I think on the grounds of his catholic faith, so I would not wish him to influence any MP to vote against the bill. On the other hand, he is being somewhat pusillanimous and equivocal on a bill that embodies an important moral principle - particularly by comparison to Keir Starmer, who supported Kim Leadbeater’s bill and voted for it.

Maybe it’s good politics. I dunno. I just want this bill to get onto the statute book as it properly should.

Think that's fair enough, and better than a vote against it.

I've got no faith that the small group of filibusterers in the Lords won't do exactly the same thing as last time.