Labour has repeatedly stressed that the assisted dying legislation being debated in the House of Lords today is a private members’ bill rather than a Government one. It maintains that the Government is agnostic on the bill’s merits. But does anyone truly believe this stated neutrality? There are many reasons to think otherwise.
Shortly after becoming Director of Public Prosecutions in 2008, Keir Starmer decided not to prosecute the family of a paralysed rugby player who helped him commit suicide. In 2009, he released official guidance on assisted dying which was criticised as overly lenient and an important step to its legalisation. In 2023, as Leader of the Opposition, Starmer said he supported changing the law on assisted dying, and as Prime Minister he has backed the legislation.
