UK ministers free to vote as they wish on assisted dying bill — PM Burnham

UK ministers have been granted the freedom to vote as they see fit on a proposed assisted dying bill, as the government refrains from taking a stance on the emotionally charged ethical debate. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that ministers are free to "vote, or abstain, however they wish" on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would permit assisted dying in England and Wales.

The government has also suspended collective responsibility for ministers regarding the assisted-dying law, enabling individual members of the Cabinet to vote or abstain based on their personal views on the matter. The Prime Minister described the legislation as "an incredibly important and deeply personal issue" on which ministers could legitimately hold different views.

The government will remain neutral on the principle of assisted dying and the progress of the Bill through Parliament, while fulfilling its responsibilities to the law and ensuring effective implementation should the law change.