On Friday 29 November MPs will vote on whether they agree in principle with the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill.
If it passes, this will mean Parliament having voted in favour of the principle of the State supporting people to take their own lives.
Disabled people are experts in the issues at the heart of this bill: pain, death, health services and disablism.
We have studied other jurisdictions where AS is legal.
Many of us have studied the proposed bill in depth.
Yet we keep getting told this bill doesn’t affect us.
We know this untrue.
We also seem to have a lot of information about this bill and what it means that many MPs are either choosing to disregard or haven’t had time and space to find out.
The difficulty is getting our views, our knowledge and our expertise to them when they are so overwhelmed with information, meetings and events on the subject and when they are hearing so many contradictory messages in the media.
It seems the vote is going to come down to the wire.
Which means that every single vote will count.
The most useful thing we can do at this stage is to try and get through to our own MPs, especially if they are as yet undecided on their position, and to try and get the ear of any MPs we have links with. If one MP listens and finds our information convincing they will pass this on within their MP networks. Information shared among trusted allies and friends seems to be what is making the most difference to them.
The situation is far from ideal and not a kind of campaigning that sits comfortably for DPAC but we have no choice.
We didn’t choose to be in this position and the stakes are too high not to get involved.
So, ahead of the vote on Friday, please, please, please contact your MP if you haven’t already. Even if you already have, there may be new information you want to share with them. Even if they are in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the passage of legislation in England and Wales will influence the situation across the whole of the UK.
MPs are less likely to be influenced by blanket letters but feel free to use information from our briefing documents available on our website.
Also be very clear in the subject line what the email is about and your position.
On Friday itself we are supporting Not Dead Yet UK’s vigil outside Parliament for the duration of the debate from 9.30 – 2.30pm. Some people will be arriving earlier from 8am. Please wrap up warm if you are planning to join us. DPAC will cover reasonably travel and accommodation for our members. Email mail@dpac.uk.net to find out more.
If you are unable to attend in person join the discussion on social media. Hashtag #AssistUsToLive. There are around 100MPs down to speak within the five hours allowed for this debate.
For those at home and needing peer support after the debate – whatever the outcome of the vote – we have members looking into setting up a meeting. Details of that to come.
This has been a long campaign with hugely triggering content for Disabled people. Thanks to all the amazing campaigners who have given so much time and energy, including at times when the odds against us seemed overpowering.
Most importantly please take time and remember to look after yourselves and each other.
If the law passes on Friday, rest assured, we will keep fighting.
Love and solidarity to all.
