Labour MP reveals why she's pushing for new law on assisted dying

A Labour MP has revealed how a call with campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen helped persuade her to push for an historic House of Commons vote on assisted dying.

Kim Leadbeater, the MP for Spen Valley, said the current law is 'not fit for purpose' as she pointed to 'heartbreaking stories' of those suffering at the end of their lives.

'We wouldn't treat animals like this,' she said in a newspaper interview. 'We give our animals a better send-off than we do some human beings.'

It was announced this week that Ms Leadbeater will introduce a private member's bill on assisted dying, titled Choice at the End of Life for Terminally Ill Adults.

The Bill is expected to be formally introduced to Parliament on October 16, with a debate and initial vote on the matter possible within weeks.

It will be the first time the topic has been debated in the House of Commons since 2015, when a previous assisted dying bill was defeated.

Sir Keir Starmer has said the Government will remain neutral on the passage of Ms Leadbeater's Bill, giving Labour MPs a free vote on the controversial issue.

The PM supported a change in the law the last time the issue was voted on nine years ago.

He promised Dame Esther, the Childline founder who has stage four lung cancer, he would allow time for a private member's bill on assisted dying prior to becoming PM.

The veteran broadcaster has been outspoken in her calls for a law change.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Ms Leadbeater revealed how a call with Dame Esther cemented her decision to push forward with her Bill.

'When I spoke to [Dame Esther], she was on fantastic form, articulate, eloquent, energetic, and totally inspirational,' she said.

'I mean, it would be lovely if she got to see this pass through parliament, having campaigned so brilliantly on it.'

Dame Esther told Ms Leadbeater that more than two decades ago she had lost her husband, her mother and her dog within the same year and believed her pet, who had to be put down, had experienced the best death.

'We wouldn't treat animals like this,' Ms Leadbeater said. 'We give our animals a better send-off than we do some human beings when they're facing the end of life. So Esther's story was very strong.'

She added she had had 'lots of conversations' with family, friends, constituents, fellow MPs, organisations and charities prior to deciding to press ahead with her Bill.

'It just became clear to me from some of the really heartbreaking stories that I heard, that the law is not fit for purpose,' she said.

The newspaper reported that Ms Leadbeater's Bill is likely to be similar to Lord Falconer of Thoroton's bill, making its way through the House of Lords, which would give terminally ill adults with six months or less to live the access to medical help to end their own lives.

She said: 'What often happens in other countries is that people might have signed up to be part of the assisted dying programme, and often they don't even use it.

'But just having the comfort of knowing the choice is there for them, if they did need it, is enough.

'And if that eases their pain in the last few weeks or months of life, then I think that is a good thing in itself.'