Slightly late posting this weeks news items. Two or three reasons for this, probably better described as excuses! First my grand-daughter had her first birthday this weekend so lots of celebrations as you might expect!! Anna was totally bemused by all the fuss and in line with other one year olds concentrated entirely on the wrapping paper, not the presents!! Second reason the b.....y car broke down again and is being removed by the RAC as we speak! Third reason, and the most serious, trying to respond to the flurry of programmes and editorial copy surrounding the assisted suicide debate. As chair of RADAR I have been trying to put across the point that until we can be completely sure that we are providing the very best support and palliative care services available to terminally ill people and their families the discussion about helping them to die is hugely premature! I don't know if any of you caught the Channel 4 programme about Mo Mowlem. An interesting portrayal of someone a...

It must be Christmas there is snow on the ground! Although I do recall not that many years ago when we had snow at the beginning of the cricket season! So this is the final blog until 30 December by which time many of you will have gained a few pounds, questioned the amount you spent and be preparing for the new year resolutions! I hope that you all have a really good time over the Christmas period and you are able to relax for some of the time! Now down to business! This week we've seen developments concerning the Equalities Bill, Hate Crime and Assisted Suicide. Disabled peers ready for battle on equality bill Three disabled peers say they will fight to ensure that the equality bill does not lower the level of protection for disabled people currently provided by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Baroness [Jane] Campbell, Baroness [Rosalie] Wilkins and Lord [Colin] Low were speaking during the second reading of the bill in the Lords. Each welcomed the bill – which streamlin...