Are all lives of equal value? Most of us would instinctively say yes, but it would seem that the government isn't quite so sure. This week, the Lords debated a Bill that was designed to make it easier to prosecute organisations whose negligence had led to death.
The Bill, however, had proposed that prisons be excluded from this law. In doing so, the clear implication was that the life of a prisoner was of less value than the ‘ordinary' citizen. The Lords saw sense and approved an amendment that included prisons within the scope of the Bill.
We may find it remarkable that the government could even consider introducing such legislation, but it is nothing more than the logical extension of an approach to life that values productivity- especially economic productivity- above everything else. When humans are thought of as 'resources', and wealth is our main measure of success, then it is no wonder that those who don't contribute to the nation's GDP are treated as expendable.
Of course, as Christians, we value all lives- whether those in prison or not - because of the inherent dignity God has given them. The challenge to those who are not Christians is to explain on what basis they value life. For even if they disagree with the government on this particular measure, then unless the value of life is ultimately rooted in God, this kind of pick and mix approach is inevitable.
Jennifer Coton, Parliamentary Research Assistant, Evangelical Alliance
