Rishi Sunak says he is not opposed to assisted dying | Assisted dying

Rishi Sunak said he was not opposed to euthanasia in principle, ahead of an expected vote on the issue in the next Parliament.

Speaking to reporters in Puglia, the prime minister said he was not opposed to changing the law on euthanasia.

A vote on the issue is likely in the House of Commons within the next five years. Labour leader Keir Starmer, who leads by 20 points in the opinion polls, has pledged to allow time for a vote and has said he supports reform.

Asked whether he supported changing the law on euthanasia, Mr Sunak said: “I’m not opposed in principle. The issue is whether there are safeguards and that’s something people have had questions about for some time.”

The Conservative leader said his party’s manifesto made it clear that euthanasia was a matter of conscience and he was committed to carrying out the will of Parliament.

Starmer’s pledge does not appear in his party’s manifesto.

The issue was highlighted by Childline founder and TV personality Esther Rantzen, who has stage four lung cancer and said she would consider traveling to Switzerland, where euthanasia is legal, if going there didn’t work.

In a call with Rantzen recorded by ITV News, Starmer said earlier this year: “I’m personally in favour of changing the law. I think we need to make the time. We can make a commitment. Esther, I can make that commitment right now.”

Mr Starmer added: “This is a massive problem for those who are experiencing this now, or who may experience it in the coming months and years, and any delay will only prolong the suffering.”

Euthanasia is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years. Assisted suicide is not specifically criminalised in Scotland, but euthanasia is illegal and can be prosecuted as murder or manslaughter.

A bill to legalise euthanasia in the UK was rejected by 330 votes to 118 in 2015, but was supported by Prime Minister Starmer and several Conservative ministers.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who voted in favour of the 2015 bill, has also said he is open to changing the law. In an interview with Times Radio earlier this year, Streeting said: “I’m in favour of it, but we need guarantees that no one should be forced to commit suicide prematurely and doctors will not be coerced or forced to assist in ending someone’s life in this way.”