Sir Keir Starmer promises vote on assisted dying if Labour wins the next General Election
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said that he wants assisted dying to be legalised after the next election.
Speaking in a phone call with broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen – who has expressed her own wish for an assisted death – Sir Keir said he was “personally committed” to a change in the law.
It is currently illegal to help someone take their own life in the UK. However, there is growing political momentum amongst many politicians in favour of allowing assisted dying – also known as assisted suicide.
ITV News filmed a phone call between Ms Rantzen and Sir Keir, in which he told her a Labour government would allow parliament the time to debate and vote on a change in the law.
“I’m personally in favour of changing the law”, he told her. “I think we need to make time. We will make the commitment. Esther, I can give you that commitment right now.”
Speaking to ITV News, Ms Rantzen said all she is asking for is the opportunity for terminally ill people to die “when and how they choose”.
When pressed by ITV News on whether he’d like a vote to take place within the next parliament, Sir Keir replied: “Oh yes, definitely. I think Esther would agree with this.
“For people who are going through this or are likely to go through it in the next few months or years, this matters hugely and delay just prolongs the agony.”
The last time MPs voted on legalising assisted suicide was in 2015, with the bill defeated by two votes to one.
However, gathering in parliament on Monday evening, MPs supportive of a change in the law said they believe the political mood has changed.
If Sir Keir wins the next general election, for the first time the law would be debated under a prime minister who personally favours assisted dying.
In his previous role as director of public prosecutions, Sir Keir personally recommended that families who assist terminally ill loved ones to die should not be prosecuted.
While the Labour leader said he would offer MPs a “free vote” – meaning they would not be compelled to vote in favour or against assisted suicide – Sir Keir’s personal position sends a strong signal to his party.
The Labour party decision also comes hard on the heels of a similar pledge made last week by the Irish government to introduce legislation for assisted dying and euthanasia into Ireland.
Following late night votes on Wednesday 6th March a special Oireachtas committee recommended that people with just six months to live should be able to avail of assisted dying.
The committee was convened following a recommendation from the Justice Committee, which had reviewed legislation on the issue drafted by People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny. However, during that process the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisors raised serious legal concerns, identifying “ambiguities and serious drafting errors” among other issues.
A person must be diagnosed with a disease, illness or medical condition which is incurable and irreversible, advanced, progressive and will cause death – and also that is expected to cause death within six months. For someone with a neurodegenerative disease, illness or condition, that timespan can be extended to 12 months.
In both instances, in order to be eligible to be assessed for assisted dying, the disease must be causing suffering to the person that cannot be relieved in a manner that the person finds tolerable.
It is understood that the committee voted heavily in favour of the proposals, and perhaps more significantly it was the view of the committee that no constitutional referendum would be needed to enable the changes.
The Committee’s final report is due to be published before the end of the month.
Undoubtedly the Irish government has learned from last week’s fiasco on the Constitution, and now has no intention of allowing the Irish voting public any further opportunities to express their views on matters of social or moral importance.
JOSEPH KELLY