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285 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWaiting Lists: Unreported RemovalsI commend the Minister for her work in reducing waiting lists for GP referral to first treatment, and they are genuinely coming down. She will be aware, however, that that…09 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentIt is always a pleasure to receive an intervention from the hon. Gentleman; he is much more experienced in this place than I am. However, over 16 days of debate in the House of…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentMy hon. Friend is right, as is my hon. Friend the Member for Spen Valley (Kim Leadbeater). I have heard it said that it was inappropriate for this issue to be brought as a private…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentI will finish my point. Fundamentally, the question is whether we can achieve social change in this country through parliamentary means, or not. I will just go back to how Sophie,…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentYou want me to make progress, Sir Edward, so I will. The question then turns to what happens now. What does this mean for assisted dying, yes, but also for the British…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentAll that remains is for me to thank Members for their many contributions today and the spirit in which they were made—the same spirit in which we participated in the Second and…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentI will introduce the petitioners first, because they ultimately prompted the debate; I will then be happy to take further interventions. The petition was initially proposed by…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentI am not here to speak for the sponsor of anything; I am here to speak for parliamentary democracy. Fundamentally, on Third Reading, MPs clearly backed the Bill. That was the…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentNo, I am going to finish now. More in Common reports a shift from frustration to anger among the general public—not on this issue specifically but because it is too difficult to…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentI do.08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentI thank my right hon. Friend for her intervention, and I respect her significant experience and expertise in this place. Again, though, I gently say that that very argument was…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentI agree entirely. I absolutely respect the fact that others, including opponents of the Bill, reach different judgments on this difficult issue. Ultimately, as I said, in our…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentI note that the Scottish Parliament democratically came to a judgment on the devolved issue of hospice funding that the hon. Gentleman mentioned. The arguments he made were aired…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentWill my hon. Friend give way?08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentWe reached a decision. Does my hon. Friend not agree that it should be respected?08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentI will just finish this point. As my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Daniel Francis) mentioned, Lord Falconer—the Bill’s sponsor in the Lords—made clear that…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through Parliamentrose—08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentYes, I agree. I will come on to talk about future consideration of the legislation. The arguments against the process—that the consideration was somehow flawed—were widely debated…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentLike others, I sat with officials from the Department of Health and Social Care after Second Reading, so there absolutely was DHSC involvement, including in many of the amendments…08 Jun 2026HANSARDProgression of Bills through ParliamentMy hon. Friend is making a considered speech, but he did point out that part of the issue is declining trust in politics. Whatever our individual views on this matter, does he not…08 Jun 2026