Tanni Grey-Thompson has said that the Labour Party’s planned cuts to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits for chronically ill and disabled people could lead to some wanting to die under proposed assisted dying laws.
The DWP: playing into the hands of assisted dying advocates?
The Assisted Dying Bill aims to permit terminally ill adults in England and Wales, who are projected to have less than six months to live, to legally end their lives. Tanni Grey-Thompson, a noted Paralympian and crossbench peer, has been vocal about her apprehensions.
Specifically, she believes that the planned DWP cuts to Universal Credit, and restricting of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) entitlement, could lead some chronically ill and disabled people to choose to take their own lives under new assisted suicide laws.
In statements made to Times Radio, Grey-Thompson discussed the compounded risks that threaten the lives of disabled and terminally ill individuals.
She articulated her concerns that cuts to welfare benefits could result in unbearable living conditions, compelling more individuals to consider ending their lives through assisted dying.
If you are disabled and terminally ill and your benefits are cut, making life intolerable, it’s obvious more people will feel forced down this route to end their lives early.
Her comments reflect a broader apprehension within the disabled community regarding the perceived pressures that might arise from such legislation.
As the DWP prepares to unveil plans for around £5 billion in welfare cuts, the dialogue surrounding the bill intensifies.
Scrutiny
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has stated that the welfare system is “broken” and in need of reform. However, these cuts have drawn scrutiny, particularly from those advocating for disabled people. Crucially, the DWP’s planned cuts to Universal Credit for severely disabled people could thrown countless people into poverty – risking people’s lives.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell, who opposes these welfare cuts, expressed her concern about how discussions of legislation, like the assisted dying bill, coincide with the potential stripping of social security.
The scrutiny committee examining the bill has also voiced its concerns, echoing Grey-Thompson’s sentiments about how welfare cuts may impact views on assisted dying.
Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney warned of a “perfect storm” developing for disabled individuals, as reduced DWP financial support could alter perceptions of being a burden on family members and influence decisions regarding assisted suicide.
Controversy surrounds the recent amendments to the bill, particularly the removal of a requirement for High Court approval for applications to end one’s life. This significant change has led to heightened criticism from those opposing the legislation, who fear that the absence of robust judicial oversight could lead to vulnerable individuals being at risk under the new assisted dying framework.
DWP cuts could kill – and likely will
Critics have consistently warned that such legislation could lead to broader societal implications. There is a palpable fear that normalising assisted dying might not only risk the lives of vulnerable people but also shift societal views on the value of life, especially concerning those with disabilities or chronic illnesses.
This, coupled with devastating DWP cuts, perhaps presents the most egregious attack on chronically ill and disabled people in recent years.
Tensions continue to rise, particularly as different factions within Parliament grapple with the implications of the bill. There remains an urgent call among some MPs for thorough reconsideration of how the assisted dying bill aligns with the welfare system’s current state and how both may disproportionately affect disabled people in society.
Featured image via the Canary
