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Way to judge a Bill

Professor Ian Donald, the pioneer of ultrasound, once said "A Bill should be judged not by its stated aims, but by its likely effects."

On 10th January in the House of Lords Peers debating the Mental Capacity Bill on 2nd Reading divided neatly into two camps along these lines. Supporters, led by the two Anglican bishops, loved the Bill for the words at the beginning and for Government statements surrounding it. Some thanked the Government effusively for its condescension in discussing it with interested parties before putting it to a vote in the Commons (with the Whips on).

The "likely effects" speakers were worried about a wide variety of different points: what sketchy planning and loose wording in the. Bill would cause to happen in areas they knew about. Most. worrying of all to the two disabled speakers was the statutory removal of the right to life. Baroness Chapman, a new "People's Peer", said the Bill made her feel less safe. Hers was the most memorable speech of the evening.

The Bill will go into Committee on 25th January.

Disabled peers claim Mental Capacity Bill threatens the vulnerable

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