Keir Starmer has promised Dame Esther Rantzen he will keep his vow to give MPs a vote on assisted dying.
The Childline founder spoke to the Labour leader before the General Election, where he committed to allowing a Commons vote on whether to change the law. Dame Esther revealed last year that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and that she has joined the Swiss Dignitas organisation.
Speaking to reporters in Rome, the PM said: “I gave her my word that we would make time for this with a private member’s bill and I repeat that commitment. I made it to her personally and I meant it.”
Mr Starmer said he will allow a private members’ bill on assisted dying, which Rother Valley MP Jake Richards has offered to bring forward. This kind of bill rarely becomes law without Government backing.
The PM said: “I gave my word as to what we would do and I’ll stick to it. It’ll be a free vote. I repeat the commitment I made to Esther Rantzen.” Asked if he would vote for it, Mr Starmer said: “I will look at the legislation first. In principle, I think there’s a case to be made for changing the law but I wouldn’t go as far as to say… I want to look at exactly what the safeguards are because that’s really important within it.”
Dame Esther told the Mirror she was so grateful that the PM “understands how crucial this life and death issue is”.
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The 84-year-old broadcaster said: “I remember saying to Sir Keir that I assumed even if a debate did happen it would be too late for me, and I was extremely touched when he said he hoped I would still be alive to hear it. At the time I thought that was impossible.
“But to my amazement, one of the new miracle drugs is holding my stage 4 lung cancer at bay so far, and Sir Keir seems to be determined to make my impossible dream of a debate and a free vote come true.” She said there are strong feelings on both sides of the debate but added: “Surely it is time to end this suffering which creates such painful memories.”
Dame Esther went on: “All people like me need is the choice not to shorten our lives, but to shorten our deaths. And to die surrounded by those we love, pain-free and with dignity. It would make such a difference to our last months.”
Assisted dying was last voted on in Parliament in 2015 but a bill to legalise the practice failed to pass. Some 330 MPs voted against it and 118 in favour. Under the existing law, relatives who help a person end their life could face up to 14 years in prison. It is treated as a matter of conscience for MPs as it remains divisive, meaning the political parties will not whip them to vote a certain way.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has previously said she can’t support it and said it might mean people feel like a burden which is “a really dangerous position to be in”. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said on Monday that he had concerns about it after caring for his mother when she was dying of bone cancer.
An overwhelming majority of Brits support legalising assisted dying, according to a poll for the Mirror earlier this year. The survey by Deltapoll found 71% back the move while 13% are opposed and 16% said they did not know.
But critics argue that changing the law could make vulnerable people feel like they are a burden to their families. There are also concerns about the impact on doctors who oppose the idea.