Sort of. Halfheartedly.

Jack! You’re here!

TLDR: Negroni Breakfast merch now exists, thanks to @balconyshirts.co.uk, and it’s for an excellent cause. So go buy!

And when you do that, you'll be supporting the Living Wage Foundation and Child Poverty Action Group, so everyone wins, but particularly people who don't get paid enough, children who are living in poverty, and you (you get a hat).

And it actually exists, too. You can go here and buy one: negroni.deco-apparel.com

There are many reasons for dissatisfaction with the bill that passed today, but this isn’t one of them.

Some are. Depends on the targeting.

This is something I believe we need to resolve if we’re ever going to call ourselves truly humane: when the law conflicts with the principle of doing no harm, we have an issue. But this law, this bill… It’s not the one.

Many people, including @hugorifkind.bsky.social and @ianleslie.bsky.social, have written powerfully in opposition of this bill - and I stand with them. On this bill. But not on the principle.

But - and here’s the kicker - I see how complicated a statement (no pun intended) that last point is. Assisted dying is hard. I do, fundamentally, think that people being able to choose to die with dignity is something worth fighting for. But I don’t think it should be a fight that’s fought quickly.

I also, more controversially, think that, by and large, if people don’t want to be around anymore, because being around hurts too much, then the state shouldn’t stand in their way.

I don’t believe that should happen. And I don’t think that’s controversial.

Assisted dying has always been framed in the context of an ostensibly healthy chap with great teeth who wants to fly to Switzerland to milkshake his way off this mortal coil. But it trickles down to a point where a family has to watch their dad fall apart because morphining him off would be a crime.

…Those are for another thread.)