MPs in war of words with Rantzen over assisted dying

NHS workers can opt out of helping patients to die as bill faces further amendments after heated Commons debate

- DAVID MADDOX MILLIE COOKE

Health secretary Wes Streeting became involved in an extraordinary attack on Dame Esther Rantzen as the Commons debate over assisted dying grew fractious.

The broadcaster and campaigner, who has stage 4 cancer and is a leading advocate of assisted dying, had criticised MPs who oppose Kim Leadbeater's controversial bill as having "undeclared religious beliefs".

Labour MP Jess Asato described the intervention as "distasteful and disrespectful" in a post on X/Twitter that was subsequently retweeted by Mr Streeting.

The row came during an ill-tempered debate over the report stage of the bill, where MPs backed an amendment to allow NHS workers to opt out of assisted dying cases. During angry scenes, a point of order was made against Labour MP Ms Leadbeater after she disappeared from the Commons for around 45 minutes during the debate.

"Is it not a discourtesy to the House and those who have spent some considerable time working on amendments on both sides of the argument, for her not to be here, to hear what they are advocating?", said Conservative former minister Simon Hoare.