Assisted dying looks closer than ever to becoming legal in the UK as Rishi Sunak said he was “not against” a change in the law – which is already backed by Sir Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister said that if the Conservatives were re-elected, he would make time for MPs to hold a vote on whether or not to legalise euthanasia in some circumstances. And he confirmed for the first time that he would consider backing a new law himself, although any parliamentary vote would be a “free vote” with MPs allowed to follow their conscience rather than being asked to obey a party line.
Dame Esther Rantzen, the broadcaster who is leading a campaign to legalise assisted dying, heralded Mr Sunak’s intervention as “terrific news” after a similar pledge by the Labour leader . The Prime Minister said: “The manifesto has language on this which is very clear that we will support what Parliament does – these matters are always an issue of conscience. Of course if Parliament wants to decide these things, the Government will facilitate that.
“I’m not opposed to it, in principle, and it’s a function of making sure the safeguards are in place, are effective. That’s always been the conversation and the debate in the past. Read Next Labour 'committed' to assisted dying vote, Starmer tells Esther Rantzen Sir Keir said earlier this year: “I’m personally in favour of changing the law.
I think we need to make the time.” He suggested he would move to allow Parliament the time .
