Statement: Assisted Dying Bill

Due to unexpected personal circumstances, I am not able to be present in Parliament to vote on the Second Reading of the Assisted Dying Bill.

I am grateful to all those residents who have shared their views on this Bill with me and the many conversations I have had with local people about the consequences and impact of this Bill.

Last year, I wasn’t able to secure a pair – a fellow Member of Parliament who would be voting yes but would not vote so as not to lose my no vote – and I missed my father in law’s death. That experience gave me a whole new understanding of the life and death nature of this Bill.

If I had been present, I would have voted no.

I have made my views as clear and consistently as I could. This is a dangerous Bill and that has become more and more evident as the debate has gone on.

Today, I have been paired with a colleague who would have voted yes but also isn’t able to be in Parliament either. As such, as neither of us will be voting but would have voted in opposing lobbies (me against, him for) the numbers will be unaffected by our inability to be present today.