In 2015, the last major attempt to legalise assisted suicide in Britain was resoundingly defeated in the House of Commons with a vote of 330 against and 118 in favour. At the time, Jeremy Corbyn spoke against the Bill, saying to supporters: “This Bill would put the most vulnerable people at risk.”
Pointing to the flaws in our social care system, Corbyn was rightly fearful of how legalised assisted suicide would impact vulnerable members of society. “I don’t believe we should be talking about assisted dying until our social care and health care systems have been improved sufficiently with a focus on the sick and elderly,” he added.
