I voted against the Second Reading of the HFE Bill.
It was interesting listening to the arguments about the Bill from its proponents. One argument related to establishing rights in respect of contact with children for lesbian couples. This was done last year in the House of Lords. Similarly the arguments about discrimination are not valid because the various acts against discrimination take precedence when interpreting the 1990 Act.
My constituency consultation was against the Second Reading. My concerns are that the direction we are taking is one that devalues certain people. That is seen specifically in the RP case where she was not allowed a trial because an expert said she was too stupid.
It is very worrying how we are trampling on the rights of people who have difficulty fighting for themselves. Although some of the detailed decisions in the Bill are finely balanced the general direction is a worrying one.
It was interesting listening to the arguments about the Bill from its proponents. One argument related to establishing rights in respect of contact with children for lesbian couples. This was done last year in the House of Lords. Similarly the arguments about discrimination are not valid because the various acts against discrimination take precedence when interpreting the 1990 Act.
My constituency consultation was against the Second Reading. My concerns are that the direction we are taking is one that devalues certain people. That is seen specifically in the RP case where she was not allowed a trial because an expert said she was too stupid.
It is very worrying how we are trampling on the rights of people who have difficulty fighting for themselves. Although some of the detailed decisions in the Bill are finely balanced the general direction is a worrying one.
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