Case to end assisted dying ban, says leader

THERE are “grounds for changing the law” on assisted dying, Sir Keir Starmer believes.

The Labour leader said the ban on the practice could be lifted via a Private Members’ Bill, after which MPS would be given a free vote.

It comes after the cause was championed by Dame Esther Rantzen, who has called for politicians to grapple with the issue for the first time since 2015. The Childline founder and former That’s Life presenter, 83, has stage four lung cancer and said this week that she had joined the assisted dying clinic Dignitas.

Sir Keir voted in favour of allowing doctors to help people to die the last time the issue was debated in the Commons in 2015.

Yesterday Sir Keir said the issue would have to be approached carefully.

“On the question of assisted dying, there are obviously strong views both ways on this, which I respect,” he told reporters during a visit to Estonia.

“That’s why traditionally, this has always been dealt with with a Private Member’s Bill and a free vote and that seems appropriate to me. I do think there are grounds for changing the law, we have to be careful, but it would have to be, I think, a free vote on an issue where there are such divided and strong views.”

As Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Keir published guidance making it less likely that people would be prosecuted for helping someone to die.

Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary, declined to say whether she thought it was time for another vote, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today: “As Health Secretary, it’s right that I don’t express an opinion on this.” But she added: “If there was a will in Parliament, it will happen.”

The last time assisted dying came before the Commons was in 2015, when it was heavily defeated. MPS voted 330 to 118 against ending the ban.