Stop the Saatchi Bill

Driven by an extraordinary two-year PR campaign on social media and a supportive newspaper partner, this all started as Lord Saatchi’s Medical Innovation Bill, metamorphosed through several versions, and was resurrected under a new name by Chris Heaton-Harris, before finally clearing its last hurdle in the Lords this week to become the Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Act. Pretty much the only thing they share is the word 'Innovation' in the title.

One day, it may be possible for politicians to ask the people who actually work in the medical field: what are the problems you face, and how can we help you overcome them?

One day, politicians may actually listen to the answers they receive, and thus try to tackle genuine problems rather than imagined ones.

One day, politicians, medics, researchers, lawyers, patient groups, charities, and the public, may work together to overcome the barriers to the development and provision of new treatments.

But it is not this day.

Read more: Not this day

Watch and read the transcript of the Second Reading

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Today’s three-hour Second Reading of the Medical Innovation Bill in the House of Lords can be watched here:

(Go to Parliament TV for other viewing options.)

The full transcript can be found in Hansard.

The speakers were, in order:

1. Lord Saatchi
2. Baroness Masham of Ilton
3. Lord Mackay of Clashfern
4. Baroness Bakewell
5. Lord Cormack
6. Baroness O’Neil of Bengarve
7. Lord Colwyn
8. Lord Turnberg
9. Baroness Gardner of Parkes
10. Lord Winston
11. Lord Ribeiro
12. Baroness Emerton
13. Lord Howard of Rising
14. Lord Davies of Stamford
15. Lord Blencathra
16. Lord Giddens
17. Lord Goodlad
18. Lord Brennan
19. Lord Woolf
20. Lord Henley
21. Baroness Wheeler
22. Earl Howe (Minister)
23. Lord Saatchi

The Bill passed its Second Reading — as is customary — and therefore progresses to the Committee Stage where it will be discussed in detail. No date for that has yet been set.

HoL Committee Stage