We believe that the decision to introduce assisted dying legislation in the UK, is a matter of such fundamental import to the future of our nation and to us as citizens, that it must be decided as a nation, not by Members of Parliament alone.
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It is also our view that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 2024-25, now before Parliament, requires far more scrutiny and time for deliberation than will be afforded by a Private Member’s Bill, as is the case in this instance. In the interests of reaching a rational and reasoned decision on the matter, we believe it is imperative that time is set aside to discuss and reflect upon the economic, political and cultural contexts in which assisted dying legislation would be exercised.
Monday 24th March 2025
The Government has no plans to hold a referendum on assisted dying.
The Government has the utmost sympathy for anyone experiencing a life-threatening or degenerative condition, and the pain of watching a loved one deal with those circumstances.
The Government also understands that assisted dying is a deeply emotive issue, with strongly held views on all sides.
It remains the Government’s view that any change to the law in this sensitive area is a matter for Parliament to decide and an issue of conscience for individual parliamentarians, rather than one of policy. That is why, when the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was debated on 29 November 2024, the Prime Minister set aside collective responsibility and allowed a free vote for MPs, allowing Parliament to decide independently of Government.
The Bill, which is a Private Members' Bills brought forward by Kim Leadbeater MP, is currently making its way through Parliament, providing MPs with an opportunity to address public concerns and to change the law.
If the will of Parliament is that the law on assisting dying should change, the Government would not stand in its way and would seek to ensure that the law could be implemented in the way that Parliament intended.
Department of Health and Social Care