What's happened
As the UK prepares for a significant vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on November 29, 2024, key figures express their positions. Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood oppose the bill, citing concerns over palliative care and potential coercion, while Labour leader Keir Starmer supports it, promising a free vote for MPs.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the BBC, Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed concerns about the adequacy of palliative care, stating, "I worry about palliative care, end-of-life care, not being good enough to give people a real choice." Meanwhile, The Mirror highlighted that Streeting's change of heart reflects a broader anxiety about the implications of assisted dying legislation, noting that he previously supported such measures. Labour leader Keir Starmer, however, has voiced his support for the bill, indicating that there are "grounds for changing the law." This divergence in views among key political figures illustrates the complexity of the issue, as reported by Metro, which emphasized the potential for family coercion and the need for robust safeguards.
How we got here
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, aims to allow terminally ill individuals in England and Wales to request assistance in ending their lives. This marks the first parliamentary debate on assisted dying since 2015, when a similar proposal was rejected.
More on these topics
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Wesley Paul William Streeting is a British politician serving as the Member of Parliament for Ilford North since 2015, and since 2020 as Shadow Minister for Schools.
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Kim Michele Leadbeater MBE is a British Labour Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen since 2021.
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Shabana Mahmood is a British Labour Party politician and barrister serving as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Ladywood since 2010. She has served in the Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer as the Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator since 2021.