One of the more bizarre aspects of the upcoming parliamentary debate on assisted dying was Keir Starmer’s pronouncement that he was honouring a pledge to Esther Rantzen. Why should the ideas and preferences of one TV presenter hold such sway over government? One wonders which other celebrities Starmer has made promises to. Is this how he got hold of the Taylor Swift tickets?
The proposed law change centres on the argument that adults in the latter stages of a terminal illness should be granted the freedom to end their lives at a time of their choosing in order to alleviate suffering. But what if one person’s freedom comes at a cost to others?