Dignity in Dying Statement on Health Secretary’s Assisted Dying comments

“In today’s interview with Fred Dimbleby for ITV Calendar, the Health Secretary has clearly distinguished between the Government’s commitment to improving end of life and social care, and backbench efforts to introduce a safe, compassionate assisted dying law. She recognises these are two separate processes. Parliament must be allowed to get on with both.

“She has also reaffirmed that assisted dying is rightly a matter for Parliament, not Government, to decide. Ultimately it is up to each MP to decide how they vote; something they did last June after many months of scrutiny and debate. Their position was decisively supportive of change. This is not something for the Government to kick into the long grass, especially when law change is already coming to Jersey and the Isle of Man.

“Prime Minister Burnham now leads a Cabinet in which supporters of the bill outnumber opponents by more than two to one: 14 backed it at Third Reading, compared with just six who voted against. This is an increase from our previous Prime Minister, and there remains a majority of support among Labour MPs.

“For dying people, that is real cause for hope: a more supportive Cabinet, a Bill already before Parliament with a Second Reading on September 11, and a clear path to finishing what we started.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact Tom Steen, Media & Campaigns Officer at tom.steen@dignityindying.org.uk or 07356135578