The PLP risks being plunged into further open warfare over whether there should be a new attempt to legalise assisted suicide in the UK. The issue and its voluminous legislation tore the PLP apart in an endless battle during the last session…
Now it looks like Labour MPs are set to conclude it’s too much of a headache at the moment. Guido has seen correspondence from Labour PPS Frank McNally who told a constituent two weeks ago: “I will do all I can to discourage colleagues from bringing back another Bill on this matter… my strong opposition to these plans has only strengthened over the last year and I will continue to do all I can to prevent it returning to parliament in the coming months and years.” He wasn’t known to be a strong opponent…
McNally also wrote: “any plans to use the Parliament Act… would be a disgraceful move and you have my assurance that, along with many of my colleagues, I would fight this robustly.” Another Labour MP told constituents: “With increasing numbers of MPs who supported Kim Leadbeater’s Bill declaring their opposition to the use of the Parliament Acts, any new Bill looks doomed anyway. Other MPs who were successful in the ballot would be well-advised to follow in Andrew George’s footsteps and adopt a Bill that focuses on constituents’ core priorities.”
Labour Leader of the House of Commons, Sir Alan Campbell, also provided little encouragement for pro-Bill MPs at a debate on Monday, questioning the suitability of the Private Members’ Bill route. It’s a headache a deeply unpopular and divided Labour Party can’t risk…
Former leader of the SNP in Westminster Ian Blackford told Times Radio why he believes Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that she spent no time in the kitchen and therefore didn’t see any of her husband’s purchases:
“She doesn’t have a passion for cooking.”