Sir Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street for PMQs in London (Image: Getty)
Campaigners have urged Sir Keir Starmer to “make good” on his pre-election promises by showing decisiveness over assisted dying.
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There are concerns that the proposed legislation could get snarled up in parliamentary processes, meaning a vote on the issue is delayed indefinitely.
Nathan Stilwell, campaign manager for My Death, My Decision, said: "Given Sir Keir Starmer’s support for assisted dying to be properly debated and voted upon, the time is coming for him to make good on that promise.
“There is already a private member’s bill (PMB) in train in the House of Lords and we hope an MP will champion an assisted dying bill in the House of Commons ballot in September.
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“It seems right that an assisted dying bill should come from the House of Commons. Our elected MPs should be the ones driving this debate. We know MPs will put their names into the ballot in September and we are here to support them.”
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Lord Falconer has put in a fresh bid to legalise assisted dying for people with six or fewer months left to live.
The PMB seeking to allow terminally ill adults to end their life will be introduced by Labour former justice secretary Lord Falconer of Thoroton.
Mr Stilwell said: “”We commend Lord Falconer for his valiant efforts to move the assisted dying debate forward in the House of Lords, though his Bill will restrict assisted dying to people who are terminally ill.
“Politicians must have the opportunity to debate a bill that allows the choice to adults who are suffering unbearably but not necessarily terminally ill - people with conditions like Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis."
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month doubled down on a pre-election commitment to allow a free vote on changes to assisted dying laws but declined to put a timetable on it.
Assisting someone to end their life is currently a criminal offence in England and Wales.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman yesterday said: “The position is as the PM set out in the campaign, which is I believe that if PMB managed to come forward the government would provide a free vote on it given it’s a matter of confidence.”
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When asked whether the Government would help allocate the Lords’ Private PMB time in the Commons, he said: “I think we’re slightly jumping ahead here, it hasn’t had its first reading yet.”
Reports have suggested that Sir Keir will not champion Lord Falconer’s bill, despite his continued commitment to a debate and vote on the issue.
The Prime Minister reportedly wants to wait for a Commons PMB.
Meanwhile an assisted dying law on the Isle of Man has moved a step closer in what campaigners declared a “victory for compassion”.
The Assisted Dying Bill passed its third reading on Tuesday by 16 votes to eight, the doctor behind it said.
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It will move from the House of Keys, for debate in October in the Legislative Council, which is the island’s upper house.
Dignity in Dying said the Bill had now progressed further than any other such attempt in the British Isles, and hailed it a “landslide victory for compassion”.
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