Dignity in Dying billboards promoting the legalisation of assisted suicide have appeared across the London transport network, including at tube stations. The ads were installed ahead of a House of Commons vote on Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide bill on Friday.
Several ads have since been plastered over with posters for the Samaritans, the noted suicide prevention group.
“On my way home and the assisted suicide propaganda has been covered up with suicide prevention posters. Love it!”, influencer Fleur Elizabeth Meston posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Dignity in Dying has been accused of misleadingly labelling domestic abuse deaths as “mercy killings” to advance its own pro-assisted suicide agenda.
One man it “championed” after the death of his first wife had been sentenced to jail for committing grievous bodily harm against his second wife.
“Absolutely Tasteless”
While TfL says the adverts comply with its advertising policy, the billboards have been slammed as being “impropriate” and “absolutely tasteless”.
“In case you’re wondering how Britain’s going, London Underground is currently displaying a massive campaign for committing suicide”, Dr Callum Miller said on X.
SPUC’s Daniel Frampton, Editorial Officer, said: “To place ads promoting suicide to TfL passengers who might already be depressed and considering suicide is irresponsible and beyond belief.
“Not only do these irresponsible billboards undermine suicide prevention, but they might also push a person over the edge, quite literally.”
Suicide is common on the London travel network. According to TfL data for the periods 2018/19 and 2019/20, there is one suicide attempt every week.
MPs have also raised concerns about the billboards. Labour MP Patrick Hurley, who is undecided on the Leadbeater Bill, said that he was “uneasy with advertisements promoting suicide on the tube. This strikes me as unwise for a range of quite obvious reasons.”
30,000 People Killed By Assisted Suicide In 2023
SPUC’s Dr Frampton continued: “It’s been pointed out that while these billboards promoting suicide are fine with TfL, advertisements for food and drink that are high in fat, sugar and salt are banned.
“London Underground drivers required nearly 15,000 sick days between 2025 and 2018 because of ‘person under a train’ incidents. Considering such traumatising events, TfL appears to have an incredibly warped sense of what it considers to be harmful to its passengers and staff.
“This is the madness that underscores assisted suicide campaigns and the dangerous ethic they advance. Increasingly, the public sees through it and baulks at such laws that, in 2023 alone, killed over 30,000 people worldwide. MPs must protect British people from becoming such a statistic themselves.”
TAKE ACTION: Lobby Your MP NOW
SPUC is urging supporters and all people opposed to assisted suicide to lobby their MP now, asking them to oppose Leadbeater’s assisted suicide bill. which SPUC is opposing to help you do this.
For a terrifying insight into the threat that assisted suicide poses to people with disability, watch Liz Carr’s documentary Better Off Dead? – Better Off Dead? on the BBC’s iPlayer.
SPUC has also compiled stories of ordinary people opposed to assisted suicide, which you can access here for free for free online. Please do all you can to oppose this bill.
SPUC cannot emphasise enough how serious this threat is. It is being debated with frightening speed, so if we do not act immediately, we will soon find ourselves living in a country where the state can help someone kill themselves.
