Assisted dying group accused of trying to ‘buy’ debate by MPs
‘Spending tens of thousands’
AN ASSISTED dying group has been accused of trying to ‘buy’ a debate in Parliament with a cash appeal.
Dignity in Dying has written to supporters asking them to donate towards a social media advertising push for an official parliamentary petition.
They say it ‘will cost a little under a pound per signature’ to reach new supporters. The petition, which calls on the Governdinary ment to ‘legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults’, was just shy last night of the 100,000 signatures required for consideration for a debate in Parliament.
But the tactic prompted accusations – denied by the group – that it is trying to ‘buy debates’.
Tory MP Danny Kruger, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dying Well, said: ‘The implication of this extraorfundraising email is that well-funded campaign groups can now buy debates in Parliament that they have failed to obtain democratically.’
Mr Kruger said he will write to Catherine McKinnell, chairman of the Petitions Committee, to ask her to ‘investigate this petition incredibly carefully’.
He added: ‘There seems to be ample evidence that the signatures have been obtained as a result of spending tens of thousands of pounds – something out of reach to the campaigners of a majority of causes worthy of parliamentary debate.’ The Assisted Dying Bill, sponsored by crossbench peer Baroness Meacher – who chairs the group – failed to secure a Commons debate after stalling during its passage in the Lords.
David Pearce, fundraising director for Dignity in Dying, said the group was ‘promoting awareness of the petition and has been transparent in its fundraising efforts to do so’, adding: ‘To imply that signatures can be “bought” is patronising in the extreme – it is up for individuals to sign if they want to see the issue debated in Parliament.’ He accused ‘anti-choice’ campaigners of raising funds with the ‘intention of blocking a debate’ to ‘deny the British people a say on this fundamental issue’.
At Holyrood, a Members’ Bill by Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur aims to allow the terminally ill to receive assistance to end their lives without breaking the law.
The Mail has reported that health and social care workers told a Holyrood consultation that doctors must be allowed to become conscientious objectors if assisted dying is legalised.