**Dame Esther Rantzen Appeals to Lords: Do Not Hinder Assisted Dying Reforms**
Dame Esther Rantzen, a prominent campaigner and broadcaster, has publicly called on the House of Lords to permit crucial assisted dying legislation to progress without unnecessary obstruction. Her appeal follows the narrow passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End Of Life) Bill in the House of Commons, where it secured a majority by just 23 votes. Despite this win, the proposed law now faces intense scrutiny and potential changes in the upper chamber.
The bill, which seeks to provide terminally ill adults with the legal right to end their own lives under specific safeguards, has ignited impassioned debate both within and outside Parliament. While its backers argue it brings dignity and choice at the end of life, critics warn of possible dangers and ethical pitfalls. The legislation’s next stage in the unelected Lords could be decisive for its future.
Dame Esther, herself living with terminal cancer and marking her 85th birthday this weekend, shared her views on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. She emphasised the constitutional role of the House of Lords as a revising chamber, stating, “Their job is to scrutinise, to ask questions, but not to oppose.” Rantzen stressed that the main responsibility for producing law should rest with the elected House of Commons, which has already supported the bill.
Reflecting on her personal situation, Dame Esther acknowledged with a sombre realism that the law, even if ultimately passed, might not be enacted in time for her own benefit. “I may have to travel to Zurich’s Dignitas clinic instead,” she noted, referencing the Swiss facility where assisted dying is permitted. Her remarks underscored the urgency felt by many families facing terminal illness.
The bill’s passage has revealed divisions not just within the Lords, but also amongst prominent advocates for disability rights. Welsh Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson expressed her hope, in comments to BBC Breakfast, that the legislation will be strengthened during its passage through the upper house. “We’ve been told it’s the strongest Bill in the world, but to be honest, it’s not a very high bar for other legislation. I do think there are a lot more safeguards that could be put in,” she said, signalling potential amendments to come.
Meanwhile, Conservative peer and campaigner for disabled people’s rights, Lord Shinkwin, has insisted that the Lords undertake a rigorous review of the legislation. Speaking to the Today programme, he remarked, “The margin yesterday was so close that many MPs would appreciate the opportunity to look at this again in respect of safeguards as they relate to those who feel vulnerable, whether that’s disabled people or older people.” Lord Shinkwin insists the task is not to block the bill, but to ensure it is rigorously scrutinised from all angles.
The political process remains fraught. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who championed the bill in the Commons, expressed concern that any protracted delays could cause the legislation to run out of time before becoming law. “I would be upset to think that anybody was playing games with such an important and such an emotional issue,” she said, highlighting the emotionally charged nature of the debate.
Opposition to the bill emanates from both within and beyond the Labour ranks, with a group of 27 Labour MPs issuing a statement detailing their apprehensions. They cited fears about “coercion of the old and discrimination against the disabled, people with anorexia and black, Asian and minority ethnic people, who we know do not receive equitable health care.” The group maintained that scrutiny should focus on the bill’s practical application, not simply its principles.
Amidst renewed national reflection, Conservative MP Danny Kruger, a vocal opponent of the bill and son of Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith, took to social media to deride supporters of the proposed reforms. Labeling them as “militant anti-Christians,” he accused them of failing to engage with the legislation’s details and suggested that further discussion and analysis are essential in such “apocalyptic times.”
As the End Of Life Bill continues to divide Parliament and provoke impassioned views across society, its fate now rests with the House of Lords—a chamber tasked with balancing rigorous scrutiny with respect for the democratic decisions of the Commons. The coming weeks will prove critical in determining whether the UK moves closer to permitting assisted dying, a topic that remains as personal as it is political for those affected.