Key facts
- Labour MP Lauren Edwards is reintroducing a bill to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales.
- The bill is inspired by laws in Victoria, Australia, which legalized assisted dying in 2017.
- The previous version of the bill passed the House of Commons but stalled in the House of Lords.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham has prioritized palliative and social care funding before considering assisted dying.
- Edwards believes the bill can succeed despite concerns about palliative care and tight parliamentary margins.
Lauren Edwards, a Labour Member of Parliament originally from Melbourne, Australia, is spearheading the reintroduction of a bill to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales. The bill, similar to one previously championed by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, aims to allow terminally ill adults with a prognosis of less than six months to live to choose to end their lives.
Edwards is drawing inspiration from the assisted dying laws in Victoria, Australia, which became the first Australian state to legalize the practice in 2017. While she believes her proposed legislation offers stronger safeguards than the Australian model, she found observing its practical implementation helpful. The previous bill successfully passed the House of Commons by a significant margin but was delayed and ultimately failed to become law in the House of Lords.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed a stance that prioritizing the funding of palliative and social care should come before introducing assisted dying legislation, suggesting it would be challenging to proceed without substantial progress in these areas. Edwards, however, argues that these issues can be addressed concurrently and highlights recent government funding for hospices. She believes that a lack of palliative care is not the primary motivator for seeking assisted dying, but rather a last resort for unbearable suffering.
Despite the tight margins in parliamentary votes and potential opposition, including from suspended Labour MP Karl Turner, Edwards remains optimistic. She notes that a majority of Keir Starmer's Cabinet supported the previous bill. Edwards also plans to engage with peers in the House of Lords to address concerns and potentially incorporate amendments, aiming to overcome the filibustering that hindered the previous attempt. The bill, if passed, would have a four-year implementation period, with assisted dying not permitted until 2031.