Health Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed he will vote against a proposed change to the law on assisted dying, despite previously supporting it, as reported by The BBC.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has introduced a bill aimed at giving terminally ill adults the right to choose a medically assisted death, but Streeting expressed doubts about the adequacy of the UK’s palliative care system to support such a move.
At a Labour Party meeting on Monday, Streeting stated that he does not believe palliative care in the UK is currently sufficient to safely implement assisted dying. His opposition is significant, as he previously voted in favour of legalising assisted dying when a similar bill was rejected by Parliament in 2015. However, Streeting now shares concerns about a potential “slippery slope,” a position also voiced by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
In contrast, Lisa Nandy, Labour’s culture secretary, has announced her support for the bill. She cited personal experiences of seeing people at the end of their lives without choices or dignity, calling for improved palliative care alongside offering individuals the option to end their lives on their own terms. While a similar bill was rejected in 2015, polling consistently shows that the majority of the public supports a change in the law on assisted dying.
Sir Keir Starmer, who is personally in favour of legalising assisted dying, has instructed cabinet ministers not to campaign publicly on the issue before the vote, scheduled for 29 November.
Streeting’s opposition comes shortly after Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood also revealed her intention to vote against the bill, citing her strong belief in the sanctity of life. Both Streeting and Mahmood oversee key departments that would be responsible for implementing any new assisted dying laws, should they pass.
Dame Esther Rantzen, a high-profile advocate for assisted dying and a terminal cancer patient, expressed disappointment with Streeting’s decision, arguing that too many people face undignified and painful deaths.
Kim Leadbeater’s proposed bill would apply only to terminally ill patients and seeks to introduce strict safeguards, including the need for approval from two doctors and a judge. She has made it clear that her bill would not apply to disabled or mentally ill individuals who are not terminally ill. The full details of the legislation are expected to be released closer to the Commons debate in November.
