Dame Esther Rantzen has made a direct plea to the Prime Minister to follow through on his vow to make time for a debate and free vote on assisted dying.
The Childline founder had a telephone conversation with Keir Starmer earlier this year – before he entered No 10 – in which he pledged his commitment on giving space for the issue in Parliament. Yesterday she pleaded with him to address the issue with urgency, saying: “Please Sir Keir, remember our conversation and let’s make time for this. It really is a matter of life and death.”
She said she was reminding the Prime Minister “just gently, you know, nothing bossy, just quietly”, adding: “Dear Sir Keir, whom I’ve met and have worked with, could you possibly recall your kind words to me and make it come true?”
In December Dame Esther revealed she has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and that she has joined the Swiss Dignitas clinic. The broadcaster has since brought the difficult and sensitive conversation on assisted dying to the fore and has fiercely campaigned for it to be given time in Parliament.
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Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publis)
Dame Esther said: “What we’re hoping for is proper time to discuss the issues, have the free vote and change this cruel law. I call it cruel, because not only at the moment does it mean that I’ve got to have a bad death, if that’s what the cancer creates for me, but my family can’t be with me if I decide to go to Dignitas.
“Because otherwise they are liable to being accused of killing me and they get investigated by the police, so that’s just messy and wrong and not what we want.”
Her latest comments come as a majority of members on a so-called citizens’ jury said assisted dying should be permitted in England. Assisting someone to end their life is currently a criminal offence in England and Wales.
Mr Starmer has previously said he is “personally in favour of changing the law” and supported a change the last time the issue was voted on in the Commons nine years ago. Earlier this month, Labour’s Jake Richards signalled his intention to bring forward a proposed law by private member’s Bill after he secured one of the top 20 spots to introduce a proposal to the Commons.
Former Labour justice secretary Lord Falconer of Thoroton has introduced the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill in the House of Lords, which is expected to be the subject of a debate in mid-November.
Critics of assisted dying have voiced concerns that legalising assisted dying could put pressure on vulnerable people to end their lives for fear of being a burden on others, and argue the disabled, elderly, sick or depressed could be especially at risk.
A Government spokesman said: “Successive governments have taken the view that any change to the law in this sensitive area is a matter for Parliament to decide. This Government has made clear that time will be provided for a proper debate and vote on any legislation brought forward.”