I woke up this morning to messages about the sad and shocking death of Michael Burawoy in a hit and run incident in Oakland. A major influence on my own work, Michael was a giant of labour process theory and a passionate advocate for a socially engaged sociology.

Like many academics, I’m an avid fan of the campus novel. David Lodge, who has just died, was the master of the genre, especially his trilogy Changing Places, Small World and Nice Work.

At my age (73) you start to see a lot more people die and you think about your own. The right to die with dignity matters hugely to most people in this country. Many who raise safeguards issues would, in most instances, be opposed to AD no matter what. They must not be allowed to block this bill.