Assisted dying bill sparks fiery on-air row as Eamonn Holmes clashes with guest: ‘You’re happy for people to suffer!’
GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes has fiercely defended the idea of assisted dying, as fresh criticisms of the proposed bill sparked a heated debate live on-air.
Spen Valley MP Kim Leadbeater received a letter of concern from 24 registrars about the planned legislation, who argued that assisted dying will be seen as a “cheaper solution” than looking after the terminally ill.
They urged the Labour government to instead cast an “urgent focus on expanding palliative care”, and that those who are dying need “properly resourced care”.
Sharing his thoughts on assisted dying, Eamonn fumed that the concerns from the doctors is another example of the “usual old scare stories”.
He told the panel: “If I’m in pain and I’m lying in a hospital bed or my own bed, please press the button for me. Take me to Switzerland or press the button.”
Commentator Clare Muldoon hit back at Eamonn, arguing that the current laws in place are to “protect the vulnerable”, but a “proper grown up debate” needs to take place amongst MPs.
Muldoon explained: “The fact that it’s going it might be introduced, I think we do need proper grown up debate to tease out the issues involved here.
“Is it about saving money? It could be, because on the one hand, we’ve got a report saying that an extra blast of chemotherapy will help women with cervical cancer, and in the next breath they’re saying this with the assisted dying bill. It is wrong.”
Eamonn was infuriated by Muldoon’s argument, interjecting: “So you’re happy for people to be in pain and suffering because it’s against your religious beliefs?”
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Muldoon shut down Eamonn’s claim, stating it is “nothing about religion” but is it about “the sanctity of life”.
She added: “That’s what it’s about, regardless if you think sanctimony is a religious term or not Eamonn.”
Delivering his verdict, Eamonn hit back: “I think sometimes we’ve got to accept you’re worn out and you’re done. Goodnight, goodbye.”
Offering her thoughts on the issue, Isabel claimed that although she “understands the concerns” of the doctors who penned the letter, the GB News host argued that as a society, we “treat animals better than humans” in the case of end of life care.
Isabel said: “I totally understand all of the concerns about this, but I do think there is also some truth in the fact that we wouldn’t treat animals the way we treat people. We allow people to suffer more than our animals.
“That being said, I share your concerns that people will feel pressured not to be a burden and that people will make decisions that they regret because they’re in a bad place at that point.
“It is really difficult to play God.”
On Wednesday, Leadbeater will table a Private Member’s Bill to legalise the practice, with a free vote for MPs taking place on Nov 29, the first since 2015.