Fringe meetings at this year’s autumn political party conferences.

Fifty years ago The Suicide Act 1961 decriminalised suicide but criminalised assisting another to die, punishable by up to fourteen years in prison. At this year’s fringe meetings we will ask whether this law is fit for purpose today and whether we can create a better law that distinguishes between compassionate assistance to die for the dying, which we believe should not be a crime within upfront safeguards, and malicious or irresponsible assistance, which should.

Here are the details of Dignity in Dying’s fringe meetings this autumn:

“Assisted dying, assisted suicide: what’s the difference? 50 Years on from The Suicide Act 1961.”

 

Green Party Conference – Sunday 11 September. Room 1029, Sheffield Hallam University from 1:00-1:50pm. 

Chair: Caroline Lucas – MP for Brighton Pavilion and leader of the Green Party of England & Wales

Speakers:  Sarah Wootton – Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying

Debbie Purdy – Campaigner

Liberal Democrat Party Conference – Tuesday 20 September. Fortissimo Room, Hyatt Regency Hotel Birmingham from 1:00-2:00pm

Chair: Paul Rossi – Chief Executive of the National Benevolent Institution and Board Member of Dignity in Dying

Speakers:  Sarah Wootton – Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying

Julian Huppert – MP for Cambridge

Chris Davies – MEP for North West England

Labour Party Conference – Sunday 25 September. Exhibition Room 2, ACC BT Convention Centre Liverpool from 12:00-1:00pm

Chair: Rt Hon. Baroness Royall of Blaisdon PC – Shadow Leader of the House of Lords

Speakers: Sarah Wootton – Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying

Carmen Callil – Writer, Critic and Patron of Dignity in Dying

William Bain – MP for Glasgow North & Shadow Minister for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Lord Dubs – Peer and Former MP for Battersea

Conservative Party Conference – Tuesday 4 October. Exchange 2&3, Manchester Central from 1:00-2:00pm

Chair: Robert Hayward OBE – Former MP for Kingswood

Speakers: Sarah Wootton – Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying

Sophie Pandit – Patron of Dignity in Dying

Richard Ottaway – MP for Croydon South

 

For more infomation contact campaigns@dignityindying.org.uk.