MP asks for respect as she vows to vote against Assisted Dying Bill

A Northern Irish MP has asked for her views to be respected as she is set to vote against the Private Members Bill on assisted dying when it comes before the House of Commons this week.

The Alliance Party MP for Lagan Valley, Sorcha Eastwood, whose husband has been undergoing treatment for a rare form of blood cancer, took to social media to explain her decision to vote against the bill which is a conscious issue for her party.

Setting out her position, Sorcha Eastwood raised concerns about the competence of the Bill and what she described as "inadequate levels of scrutiny".

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"I have been lobbied strongly by doctors, consultants, disability groups and thousands of people across Lagan Valley to oppose this and I will do so," she said.

"On a personal level, I have huge concerns that palliative care is not adequately funded and many hospices are reliant on charity fundraising. Palliative care needs to be funded properly and staffing also needs to reflect this.

"I also have concerns about the competence of the bill and how it is drafted- it is not something I could support at second reading thinking it could successfully be amended at committee stage. I think the bill is flawed and unclear and with only 5 hours of a debate, I regard this as an inadequate level of scrutiny.

"I appreciate there are many views on this difficult and highly emotive issue that is literally life and death and I have given a lot of thought to it over the last months- this is not a decision I take lightly, but I respect all views on this and ask that my own view be respected too."

The bill, which would allow some terminally-ill people to have medical assistance to end their lives, will be debated by MPs on Friday.

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