Author Archives: Stephen Tall

Over the last week or so, Lib Dem Voice has invited the members of our private forum (open to all Lib Dem members) inviting them to take part in a survey, conducted via Liberty Research, asking a number of questions about the party and the current state of British politics. Many thanks to the almost 200 of you who completed it; we’re publishing the results on LDV over the next few days. You can catch up on the results of our exclusive LDV members’ surveys by clicking here.

In the light of the controversy over Swiss right-to-die organisation Dignitas, LDV asked: Do you think the law should be changed, so that it is no longer illegal to assist a relative in seeking assisted suicide abroad?

Here’s what you told us:

Yes – 75.3%
No – 17.5%
Don’t know – 7.2%

Here’s a small selection of your comments:

Some confusion is useful. Leave it to the courts.
The right to die in dignity should be respected.
This is not the sort of thing which Parliament should interfere with. A Nelsonian blind eye is a much more adult, progressive and Liberal approach.
I do not think suicide should be encouraged, whether assisted or not, whether here or abroad.
Very frequently assisted suicide as it is called is an act of love.
I don’t think it should be illegal to travel abroad and if assisteed suicide is legal in a foriegn juristiction then thats there problem.
To each a life is given and it is for each to ‘live it’ and ‘death it’ as they deem right – so long as no harm to others is caused.
It must be a difficult decision and I couldn’t do so; let’s not criminalise those who are brave enough to do so.
By analogy with abortion, if we legalise it in the UK, then we can regulate the circumstances in which it’s permissible.

We then asked: Should assisted suicide be legal in the UK?

Again, there was strong support, but less strong than for allowing it to happen overseas:

Yes – 61.9%
No – 26.8%
Don’t know – 11.3%

Here’s a little of what you said:

At least, not until the change in the law okaying ones done abroad is given some time.
It’s going to happen anyway. Legalise and regulate it very tightly, that’s vastly better than having it happen unregulated in secret.
But with important legal safeguards to guarantee informed consent.
I have every sympathy with those who are suffering intolerably and wish to end their own life but I am concerned for those who may be pressured to this against their wishes.
I don’t support assisted suicide. But I think patients should be able to give waivers to allow enhanced palliative care even if it shortens their lives as a side-effect.

Finally for today, we asked about the criminalisation of incitement to hatred over sexual orientation, as supported by the Lib Dems last month: Liberal Democrat spokespeople have supported a new law to ban incitement to hatred against individuals based on their sexual orientation. What do you think?

Over the last week, Lib Dem Voice has invited the members of our private forum (open to all Lib Dem members) inviting them to take part in a survey, conducted via Liberty Research, asking a number of questions about the party and the current state of British politics. Many thanks to the almost 200 of you who completed it; we’re publishing the results on LDV over the next few days.

We asked: The Chief Medical Officer has proposed fixing a minimum price for alcohol sales in Britain. This measure is opposed by the Tories and Labour, but …

After a bit of a hiatus, the LDV members’ surveys are set to be revived. So if you are a registered member of the Liberal Democrat Voice forum – and any paid-up party member is welcome to join – then you now have the opportunity to make your views known on a range of issues in our April members’ survey. Topics we are asking your opinion on include:

– Lib Dem tax policy post-credit crunch;
– when you think the economy will recover;
– whether British troops withdrawn from Iraq should be redeployed to Afghanistan;
– your views on assisted suicide;
– your take …