Good afternoon friend,
This morning Jersey States Members voted by a landslide in support of the principle of assisted dying - 36 to 10. This vote paves the way for Jersey to become the first British Parliament to enact an assisted dying law.
Today is a victory for common-sense and compassion. It is also a victory for you, our dedicated supporters, who have enabled us to back campaigns not just in Westminster and Scotland, but across the British Isles. Will you continue to support our work today?
This victory is a testament to the efforts of the late Alain de Chemin, a Dignity in Dying campaigner who spoke out for change as he was dying from brain cancer. Alain, and now his husband Paul, have spoken movingly and passionately in favour of law reform and have clearly had an enormous impact on people’s views in Jersey and across the UK.
Dignity in Dying and some of our high-profile supporters submitted evidence to the jury, with more than three-quarters of the jury members recommending law change. Coinciding with the jury’s initial findings, we published polling that demonstrates some of the strongest public support for assisted dying in a British jurisdiction. 9 in 10 islanders support law change, something that Deputy Carina Alves cited in the debate today following my briefing of States Members. Ministers will now draft assisted dying legislation to be debated by the States Assembly by the end of next year.
Momentum for change is building. With Assisted Dying Bills progressing through the House of Lords in Westminster, under public consultation in Scotland and a special Committee launching in the new year in Ireland, this all-important choice is within the grasp of citizens across the globe.
It is up to us to seize these opportunities and fight to provide choice for dying people. History will remember those who did the right thing and stood up for dying citizens, as well as those who did not.
Thank you for everything you have done to get us to this point. Today, we are at the brink of monumental change. Together we can change the law, in Jersey and across the UK.
Keep up the amazing work.
