Dissapointment at whipping on organ donation vote
A number of MPs and organisations have expressed disappointment that the Government has decided to impose a whip on the Organ Donation Bill.
It suggests that “presumed consent” should in introduced into organ donation, with it assumed that an adult consents to their organs use in transplant “except where a potential donor previously registered an objection or where a close relative objects.”
MPs are expected to vote on the bill early next week.
The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are to be allowed a free vote on the issues, but according to Labour MP Stephen Pound, Labour whips confirmed to him yesterday afternoon that there would be a whipped vote against Dr Evan Harris’s bill, because the Government believes the change would be too costly.
Dr Evan Harris, said: “It is unprecedented that a conscience issue like this, where people have such strongly held views, should not be subject to a free vote.”
“The Government doesn’t need to whip against it … The only reason I can think why they’re doing this is they don’t have any good arguments against it – or because they fear they may lose the vote.”
Mr Pound, who is also sponsoring the bill, told the BBC’s Today programme that: “There’s this awful thing where you want to make the grand gesture in politics but this remorseless shuffling tread of the bean counters sort of drowns out the oratory on these occasions.”
“They’re saying they simply haven’t got the money for the infrastructure to deal with this. It’s like saying you’ve got a gold mine but you’re not going to do anything because you can’t afford a shovel. I think it’s fairly ridiculous.”
Mr Pound said he was tempted for only the second time in his parliamentary career to vote against the Government.
Over 50 Labour MPs have currently signed an Early Day Motion supporting the Organ Donation Bill. It is not known however how many of these would actually vote against the Government whip though.
