Rutland MP Alicia Kearns calls on Parliament to help Phil Newby's assisted dying campaign in House of Commons debate
A terminally ill man wants words to be followed with action after MPs called for an inquiry into assisted dying last week.
Phil Newby, 51, has been campaigning for the right to euthanasia since he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2014.
A Commons debate was held on assisted dying in Westminster Hall on Monday last week, triggered by a government petition attracted more than 155,000 signatures.
Former health secretary Matt Hancock was among MPs asking for an evidence-based debate, while James Cartlidge, then parliamentary under-secretary of state for justice, said the Government would do its best to assist an inquiry, and intimated that the Government could grant time to a future bill.
But father-of-two Phil, who lives near Rutland Water, said the pledges were ‘wishy washy’.
Two years ago he mounted a legal challenge to the High Court and Appeal Court to rule on a change in the law on assisted dying, but judges said it was a decision for policy-makers.
“I have been involved in this since 2019,” he said.
“The mood music changes, but in reality nothing actually changes. It is life and death and no-one is getting a grip on it.
“There is draft legislation on assisted dying, but they need to start creating the process where people for and against can talk to a committee and provide evidence.
“We have been denied this democratic process for a couple of decades.”
Rutland MP Alicia Kearns (Con) told the debate assisted dying was ‘not about ending life, but shortening death’, and emphasised the need for Parliament to act.
“My constituent Phil Newby, who has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a disease that has blighted my family very cruelly, he went to the High Court and asked them to make a judgment about assisted dying and they said they wouldn’t because it’s a matter for Parliament,” she said.
“It is vital that we move past a Westminster Hall debate and have a meaningful debate on the floor of the House [of Commons], and have a vote that allows the people of Britain to have their say on this, since the judiciary will not.”
A recent YouGov poll, commissioned by campaign group Dignity in Dying revealed 74 per cent supported an inquiry.
Phil, who is now on a ventilator much of the time and needs round-the-clock care, hopes the pressure will be maintained and force a debate in the House of Commons through a private members bill.
“It is the politicians who are out of step with the public on this and that became clear in the debate on Monday,” he said.
“The important outcome in this debate is the strength of opinion from the public and the consensus of that opinion is beginning to register with the people who make the law.
“But until they provide time for a bill there will never be a solution.”
Phil has fronted a series of podcasts on the subject called Kill Phil, including one with prominent disability rights campaigner Phil Friend.
"Phil is against the change of law, but when you put us together in a room for an hour there was enough agreement between us to realise we have to find a solution," said Phil.
"If we can do it, who represent the polar opposites of the debate, I don't see why those who make the laws can't."
