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MPs will have the opportunity to debate and vote on the issue of assisted dying, according to Sir Keir Starmer. The prime minister has confirmed that his government will remain neutral on the subject and allow MPs to have a free vote, rather than follow a party line. Although Sir Keir’s views on the subject are “pretty well known”, he has said that he will examine the specifics of the proposed bill before deciding how to vote. In 2015, Sir Keir backed an assisted dying bill and recently stated that “I personally do think there are grounds for changing the law”.
Kim Leadbeater, a Labour MP, has revealed that she will introduce a bill to give the terminally ill the right to choose to end their lives in England and Wales. Although the exact substance of Leadbeater’s bill has yet to be revealed, it is likely to be similar to Lord Falconer’s proposal which would give terminally ill adults with six months or fewer left to live, the option to obtain medical help to end their lives. Currently, assisted suicide, which involves helping another person to end their life, is prohibited in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and can result in a maximum prison sentence of 14 years. Assisted dying involves terminally ill people seeking medical intervention to obtain deadly drugs to administer themselves.
Leadbeater’s bill has been given space in Parliament for debate despite backbench MPs not usually being granted this opportunity. As a result of leading a public ballot, her proposal is expected to come before Parliament on October 16th, with further discussions possibly happening within weeks. Even if the bill is approved at this stage, the House of Commons and the House of Lords still have to agree on it before it can become law.
Former paralympian and crossbench peer in the House of Lords, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, expressed her concerns regarding the bill, voicing worries about the effects it could have on vulnerable individuals, disabled people, and the ability of doctors to diagnose within a six-month period. In contrast, Esther Rantzen, a television personality, welcomed the bill, stating that she “became a member of Dignitas, the assisted dying clinic in Switzerland,” which is currently the only place where Britons can go for assisted dying.
Asked about the issue ahead of a Liverpool visit, Sir Keir stated: “I made a promise to Esther Rantzen before the election that we would provide time for a debate and vote, but that it will be a free vote, and obviously that opportunity has now arisen.” He further added “I’m very pleased … that I’m able to make good on that promise to Esther Rantzen.” It is difficult to predict how MPs will vote, as the last time MPs voted on the issue was nine years ago and the House of Commons has changed significantly since then. In 2015, MPs previously rejected a bill which allowed terminally ill adults to end their own lives with supervision by 300 votes to 118. Sir Keir supported the change, while Bridget Phillipson, Angela Rayner, and David Lammy opposed it. Wes Streeting, the Secretary of Health, voted in favor of the bill in 2015, but now has conflicting feelings about the issue. The Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said he would vote in favor of the assisted dying bill and described the current law as “cruel
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