{"id":184974,"date":"2023-12-21T12:08:56","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T12:08:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=184974"},"modified":"2023-12-21T12:08:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T12:08:56","slug":"keir-starmer-says-there-are-grounds-for-changing-law-on-assisted-dying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/politics\/keir-starmer-says-there-are-grounds-for-changing-law-on-assisted-dying\/","title":{"rendered":"Keir Starmer says there are ‘grounds for changing law’ on assisted dying"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has backed calls for a change in the law on assisted dying. The cause has been championed by Dame Esther Rantzen, who has called for politicians to grapple with the issue for the first time since 2015.<\/p>\n

The Childline founder and broadcaster, 83, has stage four lung cancer and earlier this week said she has joined the assisted dying clinic Dignitas.<\/p>\n

The Labour leader, who backed a change in the law the last time the issue was voted on in the Commons in 2015, acknowledged it would have to be addressed carefully.<\/p>\n

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He said: “On the question of assisted dying, there are obviously strong views both ways on this, which I respect. And that\u2019s why traditionally, this has always been dealt with with a private member\u2019s bill and a free vote and that seems appropriate to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI personally do think there are grounds for changing the law, we have to be careful, but it would have to be, I think, a free vote on an issue where there are such divided and strong views.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Daily Express has urged MPs to grant Dame Esther the chance to hear a debate on assisted dying.<\/p>\n

She backs the Daily Express crusade Give Us Our Last Rights, which calls for a change in the legislation around assisted dying Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the issue was always treated as a \u201cmatter of conscience\u201d, with MPs given a free vote.<\/p>\n

She declined to say whether she thought it was time for another vote in Parliament, telling BBC Radio 4\u2019s Today: \u201cAs Health Secretary, I think actually, it\u2019s right that I don\u2019t express an opinion on this.\u201d<\/p>\n

But she added: \u201cI think that if there was a will in Parliament that it will happen, if Members of Parliament, backbenchers, want it to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n