Esther Rantzen in assisted dying row over 'insulting' claim that MPs opposed to legalisation are motivated by 'undeclared religious beliefs'

Daily Mail​

16-05-2025

Dame Esther Rantzen has been criticised by MPs for claiming that they oppose plans to legalise assisted dying because they have 'undeclared religious beliefs'.
The terminally ill television presenter and campaigner made the comments in a letter to politicians ahead of a debate on the legislation in Parliament today.
She said that because of these believes 'no precautions would satisfy them' enough to support allowing people to seek help to end their own lives.
However, her suggestion sparked a furious response from MPs opposed to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
Labour's Jess Asato asked the bill sponsor Kim Leadbeater to distance herself from the remarks, adding: 'Many colleagues found this distasteful and disrespectful.'
And her Labour colleague Florence Eshalomi added: 'As politicians we have to be clear that members with valid concerns about this bill are not raising it because of some ideology or religious belief.
'It is because we recognise that if this bill passes it may impact everyone, not that those who may choose to die...
'It is frankly insulting to disabled people, hardworking professionals up and down the country who have raised many valid concerns about this Bill, to have it dismissed as religious beliefs.'
Protesters for and against the law change gathered in Westminster this morning ahead of a five-hour session in the Commons during which various amendments to the law will be debated and voted on by MPs.
Protesters for and against the law change gathered in Westminster today ahead of a five-hour session in the Commons during which various amendments to the law will be debated and voted on by MPs.
But the final vote on whether to bring it into law has been delayed until late next month due to the amount of amendments and debate.
Writing to MPs who must decide whether to allow people to seek help to end their own lives, Dame Esther, who has cancer, wrote: 'There are some who oppose this crucial reform. Many of them have undeclared personal religious beliefs which mean no precautions would satisfy them.'
Speaking outside Parliament her daughter Rebecca Wilcox said : 'I'm just hoping that the MPs today see common sense that we should have choice at the end of our lives.
'We should be able to have a pain-free, caring, compassionate death.
'I only wish I could get that for my mother, and I know that the peace of mind that would come with that would be huge, because that's what's missing from her life at the moment, she has no idea what's coming around the corner.
'She has no idea how her body is going to respond to the cancer.'
Doctors have become the latest professionals to voice their concern about plans to legalise assisted dying, as the legislation returns to the Commons.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has said it believes there are 'concerning deficiencies' with the proposed Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
Its intervention came after the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) said it has 'serious concerns' and cannot support it.
Concerns have been raised over the speed at which the law is being taken through and fears over safeguards for vulnerable people.
Several MPs who backed it in an initial vote in November have now said they will oppose it.
But PM Sir Keir Starmer, who will miss the votes on a trip to Albania, has indicated he remains supportive of the proposed legislation.
New Reform MP Sarah Pochin has also confirmed she will support it, while Nigel Farage is opposed.
Opening the report stage debate today, bill sponsor Kim Leadbeater said many have 'lost loved ones in deeply difficult and traumatic circumstances'.
The Labour MP for Spen Valley told the Commons: 'Put simply, if we do not vote to change the law, we are essentially saying that the status quo is acceptable.
'Over recent months, I have heard hundreds of stories from people who have lost loved ones in deeply difficult and traumatic circumstances, which show that that is clearly not the case.
Last night the Mail revealed the Government had quietly admitted it had got key figures related to the legislation wrong.
On the eve of the controversial legislation returning to Parliament, the official forecast of how many people are likely to seek to end their own lives was corrected – but MPs were not alerted.
The final page of the Impact Assessment carried out by the Department of Health and Ministry of Justice, which was controversially published late on the day of the local election results, was updated to state: 'Since publication on 02 May 2025, two errors have been identified and corrected.'
It explained that the wrong period of time was used to collate figures of recent assisted deaths in Oregon and so the prediction for England and Wales was incorrect.
Under the revised figures, up to 647 deaths are expected in the first half-year of the scheme rather than 787 and 1,078 applicants are expected instead of 1,311.
Campaigners told the Mail the that error highlighted the 'chaotic' nature of the legislation, which is being led by backbench Labour MP Ms Leadbeater in a Private Members' Bill rather than by the Government.
She has repeatedly made major changes to the plan, such as removing the role of High Court judges to approve applications, and has continued to table amendments to it until this week.
In their position statement on Thursday, the RCP said despite changes to the Bill in recent months which supporters argue have strengthened it, the college believes 'there currently remain deficiencies that would need addressing to achieve adequate protection of patients and professionals'.
It said there are 'key factors' which must be in place should assisted dying be legalised.
But MPs with a medical background have urged a law change.A statement, signed by supportive MPs including doctors Neil Shastri-Hurst, Simon Opher and Peter Prinsley, insisted 'most healthcare professionals understand that the current law is not working', that it 'criminalises compassion', places clinicians 'in an impossible position' and cannot be tolerated or defended.
Expressing continued hope that her Bill can keep making progress through Parliament, Labour MP Ms Leadbeater said proceedings in the Commons will be watched by terminally ill people and bereaved family members 'who are counting on us to make our law better, safer and kinder – not just for them but for all of us, whatever we might choose'.
In a comment piece in the Mirror newspaper, she said: 'We are closer than ever to achieving the change the British public have long been calling for.'
She insisted the Bill is 'even stronger' than it was back in November, and 'goes further than any other around the world in its safeguards, oversight and regulation'.
Assisted dying law change - key points:
What is being proposed?
The proposed legislation would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death.
This would be subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist.
The terminally ill person would take an approved substance, provided by a doctor but administered only by the person themselves.
When would it come into effect?
The implementation period has been doubled to a maximum of four years from royal assent, rather than the initially-suggested two years.
If the Bill was to pass later this year that would mean it might not be until 2029, potentially coinciding with the end of this Government's parliament, that assisted dying was being offered.
The extended implementation period was one of a number of changes made since the Bill was first introduced to the Commons back in October.
What other changes have there been?
The plan to have a High Court judge sign off cases has been dropped and replaced by expert panels. It is a change much-criticised by opponents who said it weakened the Bill.
Changes were also made to ensure the establishment of independent advocates to support people with learning disabilities, autism or mental health conditions and to set up a disability advisory board to advise on legal implementation and impact on disabled people.
How many are expected to use it?
A Government impact assessment published earlier this month, estimated that between 164 and 787 assisted deaths could potentially take place in the first year of the service, rising to between 1,042 and 4,559 in year 10.
What will is cost?
The establishment of a Voluntary Assisted Dying Commissioner and three-member expert panels would cost an estimated average of between £10.9 million to £13.6 million per year, the document said.
It had 'not been possible' to estimate the overall implementation costs at this stage of the process, it added.
While noting that cutting end-of-life care costs 'is not stated as an objective of the policy', the assessment estimated that such costs could be reduced by as much as an estimated £10 million in the first year and almost £60 million after 10 years.
Do medical staff have to take part?
It was already the case that doctors would not have to take part, but Ms Leadbeater has also confirmed she will propose a clause to ensure 'anybody who does not want to be involved in the assisted dying process should not be forced to do so', meaning pharmacists and others will have the right not to participate.
What about the rest of the British Isles?
The Isle of Man looks likely to become the first part of the British Isles to legalise assisted dying, after its proposed legislation passed through a final vote of the parliament's upper chamber in March.
In what was hailed a 'landmark moment', members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) on Tuesday voted in favour of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, backing its general principles.
It will now go forward for further scrutiny and amendments but will only become law if MSPs approve it in a final vote, which should take place later this year.
Any move to legalise assisted dying in Northern Ireland would have to be passed by politicians in the devolved Assembly at Stormont.
Jersey's parliament is expected to debate a draft law for an assisted dying service on the island for terminally ill people later this year.