British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for Parliament to delay any debate on legalising assisted dying until the UK’s social care and palliative care systems are adequately funded.
Speaking at Number 10 North in Manchester, Burnham said improving end-of-life care should come before any attempt to change the law.
His remarks come after the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed the House of Commons in June 2025 as a private member’s bill but failed to complete its passage through the House of Lords before the parliamentary session ended. The legislation was reintroduced in June by Labour MP Lauren Edwards, with its second reading scheduled for 11 September.
Burnham stressed that he was not opposed to discussing assisted dying in the future, but believed Parliament should first address shortcomings in care services.
“I take the view that that debate – and I don’t say that there shouldn’t be a debate at some point about those issues.
“Personally, I think there’s something that needs to happen first, and that’s the fixing of the funding of palliative care and social care.
“I think it is very challenging to introduce that wider debate in a context of people not receiving that care and having the peace of mind about that care.
“And that’s the way I kind of see this, and that’s the position that I will stick to.”