Gordon Brown says he will not support assisted dying bill

23 November 2024, 00:39

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown walks through Downing Street to attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown walks through Downing Street to attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. Picture: Getty

By Henry Moore

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has declared his opposition to the assisted dying bill soon to be debated by Parliament.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

In a rare intervention, the former Labour PM explained that the death of his newborn daughter in 2002 did not convince him of the need for assisted dying but rather better end-of-life care.

It comes as MPs are set to debate the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, November 29.

Mr Brown told the Guardian: “We could only sit with her, hold her tiny hand and be there for her as life ebbed away. She died in our arms.

Read more: Why the Assisted Dying Bill is a vital step for the terminally ill

“But those days we spent with her remain among the most precious days of my and Sarah’s lives.”

Bridget Phillipson on assisted dying

Instead of backing assisted dying, Mr Brown called on Labour to introduce a “fully-funded, 10-year strategy for improved and comprehensive palliative care”.

“When only a small fraction of the population are expected to choose assisted dying, would it not be better to focus all our energies on improving all-round hospice care to reach everyone in need of end of life support?” he added.

“Medical advances that can transform end-of-life care and the horror of people dying alone, as with Covid, have taught us a great deal.

“This generation have it in our power to ensure no-one should have to face death alone, uncared for, or subject to avoidable pain.”

Kim Leadbeater, the MP responsible for the bill, said she was “deeply touched” Mr Brown would share such a personal story.

Dignity in Dying campaigners gather in Parliament Square, central London, in support of the 'assisted dying bill'.
Dignity in Dying campaigners gather in Parliament Square, central London, in support of the 'assisted dying bill'. Picture: Alamy

She said: “He and I agree on very many things but we don’t agree on this.

“Only legislation by Parliament can put right what Sir Keir Starmer calls the ‘injustice that we have trapped within our current arrangement’.

“The need to address the inability of the current law to provide people with safeguards against coercion and the choice of a better death, and to protect their loved ones from possible prosecution, cannot wait.

“So for me it isn’t a case of one or the other. My Bill already includes the need for the Government to report back to Parliament on the availability and quality of palliative care, and I strongly support further detailed examination of its provision. We need to do both.”

Under the End of Life Bill, proposed by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater, people must be over 18, and have at most six months left to live. Simply being disabled or mentally ill will not make someone eligible.

Anyone who wants to take their own life under the new law must live in England or Wales, have been registered with a GP for at least a year and have the mental capacity to make the right decision.

They must take the fatal medicine themselves - neither a doctor nor anyone else can administer it.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Alexandra Clarke, 26

Brit holidaymaker missing after boat bursts into flames on dive trip off coast of Thailand's 'death island'

Danny Jones and Georgia Horsley

Danny Jones’ ‘hurt & embarrassed’ wife Georgia moves out of family home after his 'drunken kiss' with Maura Higgins

US President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office of the White House

Trump to hold talks with Putin on Tuesday as White House pushes for end to Ukraine war

Technology firms must tackle illegal content on their platforms under new rules, but there are concerns that the changes are too weak.

New Ofcom powers for online safety come into force as charities warn of 'major gaps' in legislation

The rebels on Sunday claimed to have targeted the USS Harry S Truman carrier strike group with missiles and a drone.

US fights off Houthi drone attacks on aircraft carrier after Trump ramps up strikes on Yemen

Jack Draper of Great Britain celebrates after defeating Holger Rune of Denmark to win the Men's Singles Final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2025

Britain’s Jack Draper wins Indian Wells Open after beating Holger Rune in biggest title of his career

A firefighter inspects a nightclub after a massive fire in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

20 arrested including government officials after 59 killed in North Macedonia night club fire

Alton Towers' latest attraction, Toxicator, was forced to close on its opening day after a burst pipe caused a leak of brown liquid.

‘Nightmare day’ - New Alton Towers attraction ‘Toxicator’ forced to close on opening day after burst pipe

People sit on deckchairs on brown-coloured dry grass, in the sunshine in Hyde Park in central London

Parts of UK to be hotter than Ibiza and Corfu next week as first day of spring looms

Alexander Isak of Newcastle United celebrates scoring the second goal during the Carabao Cup Final match between Liverpool vs Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium, London.

Newcastle crowned Carabao Cup winners, taking home first major trophy in 70 years

Kanye West, left, and Kim Kardashian attend the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Nov. 6, 2019, in New York.

‘You’re going to have to kill me’ - Kanye leaks chilling texts with Kim after involving daughter in Diddy scandal

Pilot Mike Beaton was sacked for snorting cocaine off a passengers breasts in 2023.

British Airways pilot back in the skies after snorting drugs off woman's breasts before flight

Iran has denied backing Yemen's Houthis after the US launched airstrikes in the country's capital and Donald Trump promised to 'hold Iran accountable' for allegedly supporting the rebels.

Iran denies aiding Houthi rebels after US strikes Yemen and Trump threatens to hold Tehran 'fully accountable'

MP Rosie Duffield claimed she was 'single-handedly bullied' out of the Labour party by 'millionaire barrister' Sir Keir Starmer.

Former Labour MP claims she was 'bullied out of the party' by 'millionaire' Starmer amid 'anti-sleaze' row

Pope Francesco greets the faithful in St. Peter's Square.

Pope facing 'period of trial' as Pontif issues Sunday prayer from hospital

Former advisor to President Putin told LBC ‘Ukrainians will be thankful after we liberate them'.

Putin ally suggests Ukrainians should be 'thankful' nation is being 'bombed to bits'