Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, Sarah Wootton, responds to the Prime Minister’s statement on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

“We welcome the Prime Minister reaffirming the Government’s neutrality and requesting that Ministers do not attempt to influence the debate. Andy Burnham said he would do democracy differently and this important debate is a good demonstration of that commitment. MPs deserve the space to vote on their own judgement and are free to repeat the support they’ve already given to the Bill twice, before a small number of unelected peers ran down the clock in the Lords.

“More and more countries are introducing choice at the end of life. France has just legalised assisted dying. This week Australia completed the set; every single state and territory offers dying people this choice. You do not fix a dangerous status quo by leaving it in place, one that pushes terminally ill people to suffer against their wishes, to take drastic measures alone, or to die overseas while the families who love them risk prosecution for helping. The will of the public is settled. The will of the Commons is clear, and parts of the British Isles have already moved. On 11th September, MPs must finish what they started.”