- Prime minister Andy Burnham has announced he will abstain from voting on the upcoming Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to avoid unduly influencing the parliamentary debate.
- The legislation proposes allowing terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to request an assisted death, subject to doctor and expert approvals.
- Burnham confirmed that the government remains neutral on the legislation, giving Labour MPs a free vote according to their conscience during the debate scheduled for 11 September.
- Burnham previously suggested that palliative and social care funding should be fixed before legalising assisted dying, though sponsor Lauren Edwards maintains end-of-life care can be improved alongside the legal change.
- Labour MP Lauren Edwards welcomed the prime minister's confirmation of government neutrality and called for all perspectives in the upcoming debate to be treated with dignity and respect.
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