Robots and ministers
Sunday 12 February 2006 10:31 PM
Roy Arnott (13/2) asks a fair question. Will those arguing for ministerial determination in the case of RU486 accept a pro-choice decision by a future health minister? From one such person, the answer is no and yes. No I would never accept a decision detrimental to the lives of voiceless unborn children, without vigorously defending them. This would be no more and no less than an exercise of democratic rights and responsibilities. However neither would I pursue the fanciful notion, popular in the current debate, that an elected minister can somehow act counter to the dictates of their own conscience, on the say-so of those who elected them. However grieved we may be by ministerial decisions, we elect people not robots to lead us.