Thank you to everyone for all your support...it is a moving, impressive example of people power'

Esther Rantzen's joy at petition victory

- Giles Sheldrick

DELIGHTED Dame Esther Rantzen said 100,000 thank yous last night as she celebrated a "historic" victory towards assisted dying reform.

The 83-year-old campaigner, who is living with terminal cancer, said: "This is wonderful news and a vital step forward. It shows how many people feel very strongly that the time has come to allow us all to make this choice. It's our life, it should be our choice.

"Thank you to everyone for your support. It is a historic moment and a moving and impressive example of people power." In less than one month 107,000 people answered her battle cry for an urgent Parliamentary debate and a free vote on the issue.

MPs must now decide whether to hear their voices and consider a landmark law change to allow everyone the right to die with peace and dignity. Assisting someone's death is currently punishable as murder or manslaughter and carries a 14-year jail term.

Our petition was launched on January 8 and had six months to hit its target. Yet, in a phenomenal show of support, it has already reached the magic milestone at which lawmakers are duty bound to consider it for debate. Some 107,000 people and counting have put their names to it.

Dame Esther, a grandmother-of five who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in January last year, has spent a lifetime campaigning against injustice. She is best known for fronting TV's That's Life!, found-

ing ChildLine for abused and neglected children and the Silver Line for lonely older people.