Burnham Says Care Funding Must Be Fixed Before England and Wales Revive Assisted Dying Bill
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 29
Burnham Says Care Funding Must Be Fixed Before England and Wales Revive Assisted Dying Bill
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 29
Summary
Andy Burnham said palliative and social care funding must be fixed before England and Wales consider assisted dying, his first public stance since becoming prime minister ahead of a September parliamentary debate.
That position suggests Burnham personally will not back Labour MP Lauren Edwards's bill, even if his government stays officially neutral on the issue.
Edwards plans to reintroduce the same measure MPs backed in 2025, which would have let terminally ill adults aged 18 and over expected to die within six months seek help to end their lives.
The earlier bill died in April after the House of Lords delayed it with an unprecedented number of amendments, while opponents warned vulnerable people could be pressured.
Burnham's stance also marks a shift from Keir Starmer and from Burnham's own 2024 view, and came alongside his push for a national care service and cross-party funding consensus.