Peers pledge support as Bill on Max’s Law hits the Lords
LEADING Labour peers in the House of Lords are pledging their support to Max’s Law.
They backed the Bill, which changes the rules on organ donation, ahead of its second reading tomorrow.
It came hours after the parents of seriously ill lad Oscar Dunkley begged peers to back the law change.
Labour’s Health Spokesperson in the Lords’ Baroness Thornton revealed to the Mirror that she is an organ donor.
She said: “I’ve made it clear to my
family that when I go that if anything can be used to save a life then it should – but that is why we need this Bill.
“This is an important change, and I hope it gets the support from across the House that it needs.”
Last year 426 patients died while on the transplant waiting list, including 17 children. There are currently 6,163 people on the active waiting list.
MPs last month gave the Bill the green light but now it must now be approved in the Lords. After the debate,
it means making sure the Government sets aside time for it to pass its final parliamentary hurdles.
While Tory and Lib Dem peers were tight-lipped when approached by the Mirror yesterday, Labour’s Leader in the upper house, Baroness Smith of Basildon, was hopeful the Bill will pass.
She said: “This is an important campaign. We’ll be pushing to make sure it gets all the time it needs.”
Labour’s Baron Jordan of Bournville also added his support to the campaign.