Gordon Brown: assisted dying is not the answer

Former PM says death of his baby daughter, Jennifer, convinced him of the value of good end-of-life care

- Harriet Sherwood

The former prime minister Gordon Brown has declared his opposition to the legalisation of assisted dying, saying his newborn daughter's death had convinced him of the "value and imperative of good end-of-life care".

In a rare and poignant glimpse into the tragedy in January 2002, he says the time he and his wife, Sarah, spent at their baby Jennifer's bedside "as her life ebbed away" were "among the most precious days of [our] lives".

In an article for the Guardian, Brown says the debate on assisted dying is moving too fast given the "profound ethical and practical issues", and the state of the NHS means this is not the right time for a far-reaching decision.

Instead of a yes/no vote in parliament, Brown writes that a commission to devise a "fully funded, 10-year strategy for improved and comprehensive palliative care" should be set up.

He cites unpublished polling showing that half the public are not confident of the government's ability to fund specialist end-of-life care, and that more than two-thirds back a commission on the issue.

MPs are due to vote next week on a private member's bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. MPs have been given a free vote, meaning individuals rather than parties will decide whether to back or reject the bill.