UK PM Andy Burnham.
Burnham’s decision differs from former prime minister Keir Starmer, who voted in favour of the previous assisted dying bill at its second and third readings while maintaining the government’s official neutrality on the issue, the BBC reported.
In a letter to Labour MPs, Burnham said he had his “own personal views on the issue” but believed it was a matter for Parliament to decide. “My role, as the prime minister, will be to lead a government that implements the will of Parliament in this area – whether that is to change the law or not,” he wrote. “The government remains neutral on the question of assisted dying and on the passage of the bill,” Burnham said.
However, he later warned that implementing the policy would be challenging unless palliative and social care were improved.
Unlike his predecessor Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will not vote when the assisted dying bill for England and Wales returns to the House of Commons next month, saying he does not want to influence the debate, according to the BBC. “I also do not want to unduly influence the debate as prime minister and for every colleague to know it is a genuinely free vote,” Burnham added. In a separate letter to ministers, Burnham said they would be free to vote or abstain according to their conscience.