Image Source: (L) UK Parliament | (R) Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
According to Politics UK, Andy Burnham has told Labour MPs that he will not be voting on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at its Second Reading on 11th September. This comes at the same time as he authors a letter to the Cabinet waiving collective responsibility.
The Prime Minister stated:
“I, of course, have my own personal views on the issue. However, I am also clear that this is a matter for Parliament to decide and my role, as the Prime Minister, will be to lead a Government that implements the will of Parliament in this area – whether that is to change the law or not. I also do not want to unduly influence the debate as Prime Minister and for every colleague to know it is a genuinely free vote. For these reasons, I have taken the decision that it is most appropriate for me not to vote at Second Reading”
The revelation is sorely disappointing to those fighting the dangerous Bill as the Prime Minister previously stated on 29th July that the country was not ready for assisted suicide until the palliative and social care systems improve, one of his key goals going into his premiership.
In a separate letter he has waived collective responsibility for the Government Ministers, allowing them to vote or abstain in line with their consciences. Despite this, he has told the Cabinet that they must consistently reiterate the Government’s neutrality on the issue at the Despatch Box and “when dealing with all forms of media.”
He continued, “Ministers do not need to resile from their previously stated view when directly asked out them and can correspond with constituents about their previous position, but they should avoid being part of the public debate, and should not express views about the implications of the Bill for the Department’s responsibilities.”
This has left Ministers in hot water in the past, with former Health Secretary Wes Streeting stumbling over his words when being asked whether implementing state-sanctioned suicide is safe when questioned in a Committee by Labour colleague Josh Fenton-Glynn.
Mr Burnham has justified his lack of willingness to choose a side, saying that MPs need “to be able to reach those conclusions without feeling that the Government is seeking to influence the debate,” a marked change from his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer, a long-time supporter of assisted suicide who many said imposed a ‘soft whip’ on Labour backbenchers.
It was discovered last year show that the former Prime Minister planned to introduce the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the back door, planning before the 2024 General Election to encourage any backbenchers who won the private member’s ballot to introduce such legislation, freeing him of any direct responsibility for the fallout.
The Prime Minister’s admission that he will abstain when Labour MP Lauren Edwards’ Bill returns to the House of Commons shows his official position at odds with his previous off-the-cuff remarks, leaving the those fighting the Bill worried that the the new Burnham ministry would work to facilitate something its own head believes would endanger the nation.
SPUC CEO John Deighan has reacted to the news, saying: “The Bill is dangerous. Burnham knows it. Members of the Cabinet know it too. Since he cares so much about reforming palliative care, as he should, he should vote to stop this measure that would ruin the world-famous hospice system in England and Wales.”
He continued, “SPUC asks all readers, supporters, and members to write to their MPs before 11th September asking them to vote against the Bill. It is imperative that this Bill fails, to prevent the death lobby using the Parliament Acts to force an unsafe Bill into statute. Only twelve MPs need to change their votes to give those fighting for life victory.”
You can read the full letter here.
