Suggestions that the Scottish National Party (SNP) may use September's assisted suicide bill in its continuing feud with the Conservatives over "English votes for English laws" (Evel) have provoked condemnation from those campaigning to protect life.
This week the SNP announced that its MPs would oppose the government's plans to relax restrictions on fox-hunting in England and Wales, leading to the vote being postponed until later in the year.
Traditionally, the Scottish Nationalists have abstained from voting in Westminster on issues that only affect England, or England and Wales. Party leader Nicola Sturgeon reiterated that position in February.
The Conservatives therefore believed that the proposals could pass in the House of Commons.
Nicola Sturgeon, however, indicated that the SNP would now take a different approach, owing in part to the government's plans for "English votes for English laws." She told the BBC:
"The English votes for English laws proposals brought forward go beyond any reasonable proposition and look to make Scottish MPs effectively second-class citizens in the House of Commons.
"So, I think if there’s an opportunity – as there appears to be here – and on an issue where David Cameron appears to be out of touch with majority English opinion as well, to actually remind the government how slender their majority is.”
On Tuesday (14 July), an SNP MP told The Times that the second reading of Rob Marris' assisted suicide bill (to take place 11 September) had been identified as the next occasion on which Scottish MPs could vote on an England-only matter. Sources in the party said that nothing had been ruled out at this point.
Andrea Williams said: "Even the suggestion that a party might risk vital protections on life itself in order to score political points is shocking."
Cultural apologist Dr Joe Boot has reflected on what it reveals about our cultural climate, highlighting the tyranny that results from political atheism.
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Scots target assisted dying after winning hunt battle (Times)