Despite their big success at the general election – winning more seats than at any time in their history – the Liberal Democrats are still seeking a clearly defined role in a parliament where Labour’s majority dwarfs all else.
Some think they have found an answer – to lead the debate on liberalising assisted dying legislation. This issue, they believe, is squarely in the Lib Dem tradition that saw them back abortion liberalisation and equal marriage.
The Lib Dems are already setting the pace. In the Scottish parliament, the bill to allow assisted dying for those with a terminal illness and the consent of two doctors in the name of Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur.
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So too in Westminster, where I’m told some of the party’s MPs are chomping at the bit to be seen in the vanguard of this debate. Campaign groups are optimistic they have the backing of a decent number of the parliamentary party, after an election that saw 150 plus MPs hostile to a change leave the Commons for good.
The obstacle, however, in a drive to encourage the Lib Dems to own this subject likely to come to a head within months is the opposition to change from the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey.
In a highly personal interview with Sky News today, the Lib Dem leader begs his party to be careful over the issue.
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He calls on MPs not to “rush” the vote, warns that there are too many new MPs and points out “it’s been a debate that’s been around a while”. Sir Ed was signing motions about his objections to euthanasia in the Commons as far back as 2006.
“I think we have to have a more considered debate,” he said. “It should be a vote where all sides are properly considered”, he repeated, in a further apparent rebuke to those pushing for an early vote on the issue.”
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While insisting it would be a free vote for Lib Dem MPs, Sir Ed did not hold back setting out his two big reasons for his caution for change.
His first was that even people with terminal illnesses could enjoy a good standard of life, and the second was the fear that elderly people feel pressure – even unintended pressure – from relatives to use this option.
“I think a situation where healthy people might think they are a burden and then proceed with this, a huge worry and I think we should focus on that,” he said.
Asked if there could ever be a satisfactory answer to that question, he replied: “It will take a lot to shift me” and described himself as a “sceptic”.
He also made clear that while happy to have a free vote, he did not embrace the idea that this subject should be the focus of a Lib Dem campaign, instead pivoting to calling for more money for end-of-life care.
“From my personal experience, I believe that palliative care can be very, very effective. I think if we invest in our hospices, we invest in palliative care. I think a large part of the concerns that people have will go away.”
This is an issue that will only grow in prominence. Nobody knows whether there will be a majority in this parliament for a change.
The enthusiasm from parts of the Lib Dems to take the driving seat over this issue is clear. But the prospect of a clash with the leader for MPs who want to push too hard on this looks likely.
