Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has defended the proposed assisted dying bill, describing it as a matter of personal choice and empowerment, as reported by The BBC.
Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Kendall said the bill, which would allow some terminally ill people to have a medically assisted death, was about giving individuals “power, choice, and control” over their own end-of-life decisions.
“I think you should have the right to choose,” she stated, emphasising that the bill would not apply universally but offer an option for those facing prolonged and painful deaths.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, has sparked intense debate. It is set for a free vote in Parliament on Friday, allowing MPs to decide based on their conscience rather than party lines.
While public opinion appears to favour the change—73% of Britons support assisted dying in principle, according to a recent YouGov poll.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood voiced strong opposition in a letter to her constituents, warning of a “slippery slope to death on demand”. Mahmood expressed concern that vulnerable individuals might feel pressured to choose assisted dying to avoid being a burden, citing past scandals like Hillsborough and the Post Office Horizon cases as reminders that institutions cannot always be trusted.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown echoed these sentiments on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme, urging MPs to reject the bill. “I see life as a gift—something to be valued,” he said, calling for further discussion on the issue.
Other cabinet members, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, have also opposed the bill. However, Care Minister Stephen Kinnock has voiced his support, as has Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake. Hollinrake argued that individuals should have the choice at life’s end, trusting Parliament to maintain safeguards.
Faith leaders representing multiple religions signed an open letter warning the bill could lead to societal pressures on the elderly and disabled to end their lives prematurely.
On the other side, campaigners, including broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen, have passionately endorsed the bill.
Veteran broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby also backed the proposal, citing the experience of his brother, who died of motor neurone disease. Dimbleby rejected fears of a slippery slope, pointing to Oregon in the United States, where assisted dying laws have remained unchanged for nearly three decades.
Critics of the bill, such as former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, emphasised the need for improved palliative care. Sharing her late husband’s experience with terminal bowel cancer, Dorries highlighted how quality care enabled him to enjoy his final months with family.
Broadcaster Piers Morgan shared a conflicted stance, advocating for greater hospice funding to ensure peaceful deaths without the need for assisted dying.
Leadbeater defended her bill, arguing the current legal framework fails to protect families or provide dignity in death. She described her proposal as essential to prevent harrowing and painful deaths.
