A former Conservative MP has called upon people to satisfy with their MPs ahead of the Third Reading vote on assisted suicide, saying that such motion really does make a difference.
Tom Hunt, who was formerly the MP for Ipswich said that in his experience, if a constituent requested a gathering on a difficulty, it was a sign of the seriousness of the matter.
“Letters and emails are, after all, of value, but meeting requests are a level above,” he said.
The MP noted one occasion in his first 12 months as an MP when he began receiving a whole lot of emails about special needs provision in the world. However, what really drove him to take motion was when greater than half of his meetings with constituents also began to be about special needs provision.
“This had an actual influence on me and led me to make special educational needs provision certainly one of my top three priorities because the local MP,” he said.
Hunt urged members of the general public to impress upon their elected representatives their views on the controversial assisted suicide bill.
“This is a hugely vital issue,” he said.
“I might encourage everyone … to email or write a letter, but meeting in person is a step beyond that; it makes an MP feel connected to their constituents and, on this issue, this is totally vital.
“It has more likelihood of cutting through. There are 650 MPs. We need them to vote the appropriate way. Please request a gathering along with your local MP.”
The bill passed Second Reading in November by 55 votes. However, reports have suggested that many MPs who voted for the bill did so due to the promised safeguard of requiring a High Court judge to approve any assisted suicide.
Since then that safeguard has been watered all the way down to a panel of experts.
Catherine Robinson, a spokesperson for Right To Life UK, which is campaigning against the bill, echoed Hunt’s views: “With three extra weeks until the following vote, we all know the assisted suicide lobby is not going to be standing still and might be using every minute of this beyond regular time.
“That is why it’s imperative to achieve as many MPs as possible between now and Third Reading to influence them to oppose this dangerous Bill, and remind those in favour to be present for the vote”.
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