Burnham says he will not vote on assisted dying bill

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has revealed he will not vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in England and Wales, unlike his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer.

Burnham said he has his own personal views on the issue but it was a matter for Parliament to decide.

The bill is identical to the one put to Parliament last year, where it passed in the House of Commons but stalled in the Lords after an unprecedented number of amendments meant it ran out of time. MPs are likely to get the chance to debate and vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in two weeks' time.

The bill would allow adults over the age of 18 who are expected to die within six months to be given help to end their own life, subject to certain safeguards. Supporters of the bill - brought by Labour MP Lauren Edwards - are hoping it will pass the Commons unamended.

This is because an amended bill in the Commons would remove powers under the Parliament Acts to override the Lords and make it law if they refuse to back it. Opponents of assisted dying have vowed to continue scrutinising the bill.

A separate bill that would have legalised assisted dying in Scotland was rejected by the Scottish Parliament in March 2026.

The decision not to vote on the bill has been seen as a significant setback for those campaigning for the right to die with dignity. It remains to be seen whether the bill will pass through the Lords and become law, or if it will face further amendments before that point.

As the debate continues, health experts are weighing in on the potential implications of the bill. Some argue that it could lead to an increase in assisted dying cases, while others believe it could have unintended consequences for the NHS and social care systems.

The decision not to vote on the bill has also raised questions about Burnham's own position on the issue. While he has expressed support for the idea of assisted dying in principle, his abstention from voting suggests that he is taking a cautious approach to the matter.