‘House of Lords should not wreck assisted dying invoice as soon as once more – let MPs determine’

MPs in favour of assisted dying must be sure watertight safeguards are in place to protect the vulnerable

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Let MPs be ones to set dying laws

Motor neurone disease made Gaynor Griffiths’ life insufferable. But she had to fly to Switzerland to end it.

Gaynor’s dying wish was for others in her position to be able to leave this world at a time and place of their own choosing.

MPs will on Friday get a second chance to help grant that wish – the House of Lords wrecked an earlier attempt at legislation – when they debate assisted dying.

It is a morally and emotionally complex issue, and it is right MPs have a free vote. There are valid arguments both for and against, and both need proper scrutiny.

MPs in favour must be sure watertight safeguards are in place to protect the vulnerable. Those against must think of people such as Gaynor, and live with their consciences if their vote prolongs the torment of the terminally ill desperate for a dignified way out.

Andy Burnham said palliative and social care need to be fixed before assisted dying can be introduced, and that view should also be considered.

But the delay that would cause would not help those suffering right now.

The PM will abstain in the vote, and has told his ministers not to engage in public debate.

He is anxious for the government not to influence the outcome, which means each MP has an onerous responsibility.

But whatever decision our elected representatives reach, unelected peers must not scupper it again.

A police failure

There is no excuse for the intimidating protest that paralysed Dover port yesterday, terrifying locals and travellers.

Nor is there any excuse for the police to have been taken by surprise.

It took organisation to get 300 people together, all dressed in black and masked.

Police are meant to have intelligence units monitoring far-right groups – to get prior warning of any disruption being planned so they can prepare to minimise it.

That intelligence demonstrably failed in this case. There must be an immediate review to find out why, and police must raise their game in future. Otherwise the frightening scenes in Dover yesterday will only be repeated.

So heartening

Heart transplant girl Amelia Bolter was as excited as any other child on her first day at school last week.

But unlike other children, it was a miracle she was there at all – after she spent a record-breaking 18 months on a mechanical heart pump before her transplant operation.

Now we hope Amelia will look back on her schooldays as some of the happiest of her life.