Disabled Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed strong opposition to the assisted dying bill, cautioning that its passage into law could potentially endanger the lives of disabled individuals. Despite the bill’s approval in the House of Commons by a margin of 314 votes to 291, disabled MPs predominantly voted against it, with seven out of eight self-identified disabled MPs rejecting the proposal.
Notably, Labour MPs Jen Craft, Marsha de Cordova, Vicky Foxcroft, Liam Conlon, Emma Lewell, and Marie Rimmer, along with Liberal Democrat Steve Darling, were among those who opposed the bill. The sole disabled MP to vote in favor of the bill was Marie Tidball, who had previously spoken in support of the bill during committee discussions.
During the debate, only two disabled MPs, Jen Craft and Vicky Foxcroft, voiced their opinions. Craft warned that the vote would have significant real-world implications, emphasizing the tendency of medical systems to devalue the lives of disabled individuals.
Underscoring her concerns
She shared a personal anecdote about being offered a termination within 48 hours after her daughter’s Down’s syndrome diagnosis, underscoring her concerns about the bill’s lack of robust safeguards against discrimination and bias.
Assisted Dying Bill
Craft further criticized the bill’s review process, highlighting the potential exclusion of family and carers from proceedings and the absence of appeal rights. She condemned the decision to forward the flawed bill to the House of Lords without addressing its shortcomings, describing it as a dereliction of MPs’ duty. Craft urged her colleagues to vote against the bill if they harbored any doubts, rather than relying on others to rectify its issues later.
Vicky Foxcroft, who had resigned as a government whip the previous day in protest over cuts to disability benefits, shared her evolution in perspective on assisted dying. After engaging with hundreds of disabled individuals during her tenure as shadow minister, Foxcroft’s stance shifted, and she now opposes the bill in its current form. She emphasized the deep-seated fears of many disabled people regarding assisted dying, particularly in light of their experiences during the pandemic and the imposition of “do not resuscitate” orders without consent.
Foxcroft stressed the need for a robust health and social care system that prioritizes the well-being of disabled individuals. She lamented the bill’s progression with minimal input from disabled people, describing the lack of involvement as “astonishing.” Foxcroft noted that only one disabled people’s organization had been invited to provide evidence, and the bill was not made available in accessible formats. She concluded that while she does not inherently oppose assisted dying, she cannot support the current bill without proper safeguards and broader support from disabled individuals and their organizations. Foxcroft urged MPs to consider protecting vulnerable individuals who may feel pressured into ending their lives due to societal pressures.
