Life Goes On

By causing the media to mention David Alton, the lifting of Chinese sanctions reminds us of the sheer gall of the pro-death movement in complaining that the Assisted Suicide Bill had been filibustered.

Today in the House of Lords, the Government Chief Whip emphatically ruled out the Government's taking up that Bill if the Parliament Act were invoked, as has never been done in relation to a Private Member's Bill, and which Lord Falconer would have no right to do.

In any case, Falconer offered to amend that Bill on the same day as he had made that empty threat. Falconer's offer was of amendments that Kim Leadbeater had also promised, but had never tabled.

There are rules about citing either House in the other, but Falconer's attempt at bullying was made on the Today programme. In the House of Commons on Monday, a Point of Order would be in order.