News

LONDON, November 26, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Queen of England delivered her speech from the throne today which outlines the British Government’s plans for upcoming legislation.  The speech, written by Prime Minister Tony Blair, confirmed that the Labour Government would press ahead with homosexual union legislation as well as legislation to ban spanking by parents. However, pro-life lobbyists were pleased to note that the controversial bill which would authorize euthanasia by neglect was excluded from the speech.  “My Government will maintain its commitment to increased equality and social justice by bringing forward legislation on the registration of civil partnerships between same sex couples,” said the Queen.  The plan would give homosexual couples virtually all of the privileges of married couples including legal recognition after official documents are signed before the registrar and two witnesses.  The Queen also said, “A Bill will be introduced to improve the services designed to protect children. A Children’s Commissioner for England will be established.” The bill seeks to outlaw spanking of children by their parents through removal of permission to use reasonable spanking as a form of discipline.  The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) has welcomed the absence of the draft Mental Incapacity Bill from the Queen’s Speech.  John Smeaton, SPUC’s national director, in a communication to LifeSiteNews.com commented: “It is excellent news that the government’s Mental Incapacity Bill, which would allow euthanasia by neglect, has been left out of the Queen’s Speech.”  Smeaton thanked pro-lifers for contacting their political representatives to oppose the bill.  “However, the danger of widespread euthanasia in Britain is still very real whilst the government’s draft bill remains in the wings,” he warned.  “The present government says it is against euthanasia. But it makes a qualification. While it claims to oppose the idea of active euthanasia – such as lethal injections – its draft Mental Incapacity Bill would change the law to allow euthanasia ‘by neglect’. Patients with conditions like dementia, stroke or traumatic brain injury would be at risk from euthanasia ‘by neglect’, which means being killed by withholding their basic medical care or even food and fluids.”  SPUC will hold a mass lobby of parliament on 27 and 28 April next year highlighting the threat of euthanasia by neglect contained in the draft Mental Incapacity Bill, as well as the practice of the deliberate starvation and dehydration of vulnerable patients, which is currently widespread in British hospitals. The mass lobby of parliament will be held on the 37th anniversary of the Abortion Act coming into force.  See the full text of the Queen’s Speech online at:  https://www.politicallinks.co.uk/politics2/Bulletin/Archives/Queen’s%20Speeches/Queen20034.asp (please copy full link to thy address bar)