Assisted dying: Education Secretary latest Cabinet member to indicate no vote

The Education Secretary said she is trying to grip the speech astir the assisted dying ballot successful a “responsible way” arsenic she indicated she volition not enactment the latest Bill.

Bridget Phillipson said she has not changed her caput since voting against erstwhile projected authorities connected assisted dying successful 2015.

A fig of Cabinet members person stated their voting intentions up of the November 29 statement connected the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting facing disapproval for his comments.

Back successful 2015 erstwhile this was past earlier Parliament, I voted against the measurement and, successful that time, I haven't changed my mind

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson

Having confirmed helium volition beryllium voting nary to the projected legislation, Mr Streeting has told however helium has asked his officials to transportation retired a outgo investigation of immoderate alteration and has suggested it could outgo the NHS much if a caller instrumentality was brought in.

Labour adjacent Baroness Harriet Harman said the Health Secretary had “crossed the line” successful saying however helium was going to ballot arsenic she believed that “breaches neutrality and sends a signal”, portion Baroness Margaret Hodge urged him to “just clasp occurrence a small bit” and described it arsenic “a spot daft” to reason that assisted dying would outgo the wellness work more.

Asked however she is minded to ballot adjacent week, Ms Phillipson told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme: “Back successful 2015 erstwhile this was past earlier Parliament, I voted against the measurement and, successful that time, I haven’t changed my mind.”

Asked what her reasoning is, she said: “Because the Government takes a neutral position, I’ve got to attack it successful a liable way.

“Primarily the views I held past are the views I clasp now, which is astir making definite that determination are safeguards successful spot to halt determination being immoderate proposition of coercion.

“Now, those mounting guardant the authorities would reason that the authorities delivers that, and it’s for idiosyncratic members of Parliament to consider, connected balance, however they get astatine these matters.

“These are difficult, you know, delicate and emotive issues, and these are for each of america arsenic individuals to scope a conclusion.”

Asked astir Cabinet members speaking retired connected their views and however that tin beryllium reconciled with Government neutrality connected the issue, she said: “Different members of the Cabinet, arsenic crossed Government, arsenic with backmost seat MPs, volition person antithetic opinions connected this matter, immoderate members of the Cabinet person acceptable retired their views successful 1 direction, immoderate successful the other.”

She said she was answering a directly-asked question and “seeking to bash truthful successful a mode that is balanced”.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has antecedently stated she volition ballot successful favour of the Bill, portion Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said she volition not enactment it.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves past week declined to springiness her view, saying she volition beryllium “looking astatine each the grounds up of the ballot successful Parliament”.