Rishi Sunak has revealed he would back the legalisation of assisted suicide as long as vulnerable people were protected.
The Prime Minister said he was ‘not opposed’ to the landmark reform as long as ‘safeguards’ were put in place.
His comments were his clearest to date on his personal views, after he said earlier this year he would allow time in Parliament for any proposed legislation to be debated fully.
The Conservative manifesto published last week only said that assisted dying was a ‘matter of conscience’ for MPs but that the debate ‘should never distract’ from the importance of palliative care for the seriously ill.
Rishi Sunak addresses the audience during a Sky News election event on June 12
Keir Starmer speaks to Nick Robinson on the BBC1 Panorama show on June 14
It means that the leaders of both main political parties now publicly support a change in the law, which currently states that anyone who helps someone end their life risks up to 14 years in jail.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer – who as Director of Public Prosecutions set out for the first time guidelines that made it less likely family members would be taken to court if they acted out of compassion – has already said he is ‘personally in favour of changing the law’.
Mr Sunak was asked by reporters while at the G7 summit in Italy last week if he would vote for a change in the law on assisted dying and replied: ‘The manifesto has language on this which is very clear: we will support what Parliament does, these matters are always an issue of conscience. Of course if Parliament wants to decide they want to facilitate it.’ But he added: ‘What I’ve said before – I’m not opposed to it, in principle, and it’s a question of making sure the safeguards are in place and are effective. That’s always been the conversation and the debate in the past.
‘I’m not against it in principle. It’s just a question of having the safeguards in place and that’s where people have had questions in the past.’
Last night leading campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen, who wants the right to end her own life pain-free after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, said: ‘What terrific news, in these polarised times, that the two leaders of the biggest parties both believe that the next Parliament must have the opportunity to debate this life and death issue.
‘I’m so glad that Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak have decided that the time has come to look at the abundant evidence from countries abroad, to consider which precautions should be included in a new assisted dying law here.’ Sarah Wootton, Chief Executive of Dignity in Dying, said: ‘It is hugely significant that both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition have promised they would make time for a proper debate and vote on assisted dying, and that neither are opposed to reform.
Pictured, leading campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen who wants the right to end her own life pain-free after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer
Supporters of the Campaign to Legalise Assisted Dying Hold a Demonstration Outside the Houses of Parliament, September 2015
‘This is a watershed General Election for dying people, many of whom will be casting their final vote and will give it to candidates who are on the side of compassionate choice.
‘Whether a manifesto commitment or personal pledge, it’s clear that it’s now a case of when the law will change, not if. Assisted dying is a movement whose time has come.’
But Dr Gordon Macdonald, Chief Executive of Care Not Killing, insisted: ‘The Prime Minister’s position on assisted suicide and euthanasia hasn’t changed and these new comments do not reflect a change in his stance. What they do show is he recognises the difficulty in drafting robust legislation on this issue, because of what we see in the handful of jurisdictions that have introduced state assisted killing. Safeguards quickly removed and pressure put on disabled people, those with chronic conditions and mental health problems to be included.
‘Furthermore, any change in the law would represent a dramatic change in how doctors and nurses treat and care for people. It would also place huge pressure, real or perceived on terminally ill and disabled people to end their lives exactly as we see in the handful of places that have legalised assisted suicide or euthanasia.’ He added: ‘It is disappointing at time when we have seen widespread discrimination against the elderly and disabled people, along with a crisis in the NHS, the care system and with hospices across the country are facing a £100 million shortfall that we continue to ignore the more important debate of how to extend high quality palliative care to all those who need it.’