Burnham says he will not vote on assisted dying unlike Starmer

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he will not cast a vote on the assisted dying bill for England and Wales, unlike his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is set to be debated and voted upon by MPs in approximately two weeks. This bill mirrors the one presented to Parliament last year, which passed in the House of Commons but faced obstacles in the Lords due to numerous amendments, causing it to miss its deadline.

Burnham stated that his stance on the matter is personal, but it is ultimately for Parliament to determine. Starmer voted in favor of the previous bill while serving as Prime Minister but maintained an official neutrality, refraining from campaigning for it. In his letter to Labour MPs, Burnham emphasized that he aims to lead a government that respects the decision of Parliament, neither influencing the debate nor imposing a particular position.

Burnham acknowledged the significance of the debate on assisted dying, ensuring that diverse views are treated with respect and dignity. While Burnham's abstention diverges from Starmer's support, the government maintains a neutral stance on the bill. Burnham previously expressed his support for assisted dying in principle while serving as Greater Manchester mayor, but in June, he suggested that implementing the law before improvements in social and palliative care would be difficult.

The proposed law would permit adults aged 18 and above, with a prognosis of six months or less to live, to seek help in ending their own lives under certain safeguards. Burnham has communicated to ministers that they are free to vote as they see fit but should refrain from engaging in public debates and avoiding expressing opinions regarding the bill's impact on their department's responsibilities.

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper previously voted in favor of the assisted dying bill, while her predecessor Wes Streeting openly expressed concerns about its implications for the NHS. Supporters of the bill, proposed by Labour MP Lauren Edwards, are optimistic about its passage through the Commons unamended. This is because an amended version in the Commons would eliminate the Lords' powers to override it and make it law if they reject it.

MPs backing the bill are hopeful that the Lords will vote in favor, considering the choice between some skeptical amendments and an unamended bill becoming law. The Lords previously submitted over 1,200 amendments during the previous bill, mainly from opponents, which prompted campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen, who has terminal cancer, to accuse opponents of attempting to sabotage rather than scrutinize the bill.

Opponents of assisted dying have vowed to continue scrutinizing the bill. A separate bill aiming to legalize assisted dying in Scotland was rejected by the Scottish Parliament in March 2026.