A vote to introduce assisted dying in the UK could be on the horizon, as Downing Street has indicated it will not obstruct a private member’s bill on the matter.
Polling by YouGov in 2024 shows that 69% of Britons favour changing the law to allow assisted dying for those suffering from terminal illnesses. However, both Labour and Liberal Democrat leadership face internal disagreements over the issue, despite public sentiment leaning towards reform.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has voiced his support for a change in the law. However, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is strongly opposed, expressing concerns that legalising assisted dying could create dangerous societal norms. “Once you cross that line, you’ve crossed it forever,” she said, warning about the risk of vulnerable individuals feeling pressured or perceived as burdens.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has also expressed uncertainty about supporting such legislation, despite acknowledging that it’s time for formal discussions on the matter. A number of Liberal Democrats, including leader Ed Davey, share concerns about legalisation, though a party-led private member’s bill in Scotland is pushing for change.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater secured the top spot, followed by Liberal Democrats Max Wilkinson and Roz Savage. So far, none of these MPs have confirmed their legislative priorities. However, it is understood that the government has offered staffing resources to support MPs who choose to pursue the issue.
No. 10 has reiterated that the matter would be subject to a free vote, leaving the decision up to Parliament. A government source confirmed that while Starmer holds strong views on the issue, the government will not put pressure on MPs to support any specific position.
Public support for legal reform is being echoed by personal stories like that of Sophie Blake, a mother from Brighton with terminal cancer. Diagnosed with stage four secondary breast cancer in 2022, Blake is calling on the government to “urgently” reform assisted dying laws, highlighting her concern about potentially facing unbearable pain with no legal option for relief.
Blake, who is allergic to opioid painkillers, fears the impact her protracted suffering could have on her family, especially her 17-year-old daughter. “We all know how brutal [death from terminal illness] can be,” she said, advocating for the right to a “peaceful death” on her own terms.
Despite widespread public support, some politicians and groups remain firmly against legalisation, citing ethical concerns and fears of abuse. Former Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has cautioned that even with safeguards in place, the law could be “open to a huge amount of abuse.”
In July, a bill was introduced in the House of Lords to allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to seek medical help to end their lives, contingent on approval from two doctors and the High Court. However, private members’ bills in the Lords rarely pass into law, and opposition to assisted dying remains a powerful force within both Parliament and the public sphere.
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In Canada, apparently the state is responsible for 20% of all deaths, so the Canadian government is the 5 largest killer, is this what the government etc wants, or are we not supposed to notice?