Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 13 Feb 2012 Assisted Dying
"My Lords, the number of speakers in this debate shows that the appetite for debating this issue in your Lordships' Chamber has quite rightly not diminished. We should be grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Jay, for this—albeit inadequate—opportunity. But the first question for the Government should surely be whether …..." Lord Butler of Brockwell - View Speech
Leave out from “House” to end and insert “do insist on its Amendments 1, 2 and 9 and do disagree with the Commons in their Amendment 9C in lieu.”..." Lord Butler of Brockwell - View Speech
"My Lords, I will not take up your Lordships’ time by repeating the arguments for the sunset clause which noble Lords passed on two occasions before the Summer Recess, except to say to the Minister that it was a novelty to hear him accuse me of reintroducing politicking. I have …..." Lord Butler of Brockwell - View Speech
"I thank those who have taken part in this debate. I particularly say to the noble Lord, Lord Alderdice, that of course I accept that this is a disagreement—a disagreement on a very important constitutional matter, on which, I think, everybody agrees there has not been the normal preparation for …..." Lord Butler of Brockwell - View Speech
As an amendment to Motion A, leave out from “House” to end and insert “do insist on its Amendments 1, 2 and 9”...." Lord Butler of Brockwell - View Speech
"My Lords, in the absence of my noble friend Lord Pannick, but with his support, it falls to me to urge your Lordships to cause the Government to think again about these amendments which this House passed to the Bill. My noble friend asks me to express his regret that …..." Lord Butler of Brockwell - View Speech
"My Lords, I agree that this has been a very good debate. I do not need to go over the arguments again except perhaps to assure the Minister and the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, that, like Mark Twain’s death, reports of the advantage to a Prime Minister of being able …..." Lord Butler of Brockwell - View Speech
"My Lords, I raise one question with my noble friend about his amendment. Under subsection (2)(a) of the proposed new clause, the Prime Minister would be bound to submit to Her Majesty a request for a proclamation leading to a general election if the Queen’s Speech had been rejected. Would …..." Lord Butler of Brockwell - View Speech
"My Lords, I and, I am sure, my noble friends are very grateful for the generous things which have been said about this amendment. They have been said so well that I need speak only briefly, but I hope that brevity will not disguise from your Lordships the constitutional importance …..." Lord Butler of Brockwell - View Speech
"Since it is agreed that the legislation is not necessary to bind the present Government, what purpose can it possibly have except to bind future Governments?..." Lord Butler of Brockwell - View Speech