Absolute respect for human life is the keystone of justice. A truly just society affirms the fundamental moral equality of all human beings and provides the full protection of the law for all its members, regardless of sex, race, creed, age, size, wealth or physical or mental attainments. It bestows special protection on the weak and vulnerable and makes generous provision for those in need. It proclaims human duties as well as human rights. It cherishes virtue.

The right to life is the most important right from which all others flow. Issues such as health care, housing, education, freedom of speech, the environment, foreign policy, and so on, are of little significance if one’s life can be arbitrarily ended at various stages of its existence.

In a country where embryo destruction, abortion and euthanasia by omission are practised regularly, we choose to fight against these abuses and will address the lesser issues when the basic right to life is firmly re-instated in the political agenda.

Will wasn’t treated for a long time because of his gestation. I held him in the delivery suite for 7 hours with no intervention as we waited for him to die.

The hospital took him down to the Special Care Baby Unit at 7 hours old. But Will wasn’t actively treated until he was 36 hours old and that was after I had been told that he really had no chance of survival and if he did survive he would be severely disabled.

If Will had died as he was expected to he wouldn’t have even been classified as a live birth but as a late miscarriage which meant that I wouldn’t have been able to register his birth and death.

Will is now nearly 10 years old, has no disabilities or after effects whatsoever and is among the brightest in his class. If he can survive, then so can others.

Liz Goddard