Peter Hitchens remarked on the UK’s governance as akin to a “death cult” after supporting labor control votes, coinciding with his stance on decriminalizing abortion until moments before birth.
In a recent parliamentary session, British lawmakers endorsed a terminal adult (end of life) bill, securing 314 votes to 291, a margin of 23. This legislation no longer faces substantial hurdles in Westminster, essentially paving the way for it to become law.
The bill allows terminally ill adults to request assisted death, with applications reviewed by a panel consisting of doctors, social workers, lawyers, and psychiatrists.
Proponents of the bill dismiss worries that vulnerable individuals might face pressure to choose death for the sake of easing burdens on the National Health Service or their families, asserting that adequate protective measures are in place and criticizing the “slippery slope” arguments against such changes.
Nonetheless, the Royal Psychiatrist raised unresolved issues regarding the legislation. In a statement, they expressed concerns about the lack of a comprehensive assessment for unmet needs: “Do individuals have mental health disorders that influence their desire to die?”
This marks the second time this week that the British Parliament has advanced measures to expand legal euthanasia for vulnerable populations. Lawmakers also voted to decriminalize abortion—amendments to the Crime and Police Bill allowed this under a 24-week limit, resulting in a vote tally of 379 to 137.
The justification for this change was that women facing such dire circumstances “need care and support, not criminalization.”
Today’s contentious vote on assisted dying was a free vote, meaning party lines didn’t dictate support. Notably, many Labour lawmakers opposed the bill, which seemingly required backing from opposition members, including former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The Daily Telegraph noted that without the support from conservative ranks, the bill likely wouldn’t have succeeded.
In contrast, some figures from the Reformed Britain party, such as Richard Tice and Sarah Pochin, voted in favor, while others, like Nigel Farage, Lee Anderson, and James McMackdock opposed it.
The series of votes this week concerning assisted dying has elicited despair among those in the UK pro-life movement. Following the vote, journalist and conservative commentator Peter Hitchens rhetorically questioned, “Is Congress now voting for older men’s abortion rights right after approving a harsher abortion standard for the fetus? Are we truly governed by a death cult?”
