'WILL YOU FORCE ME TO FLY TO DIGNITAS TO DIE ALONE?'

EXCLUSIVE: DISTRESSED DAME ESTHER'S PLEA TO HEALTH SECRETARY WES STREETING WHO PLANS TO VOTE AGAINST CHANGING ASSISTED DYING LAW

- Hanna Geissler

ESTHER Rantzen says the Health Secretary is forcing her to "fly to Dignitas in Zurich to die alone".

The terminally ill campaigner accused Wes Streeting after he said he would vote against legalising assisted dying having changed his mind.

Mr Streeting had supported a failed Bill in 2015 that had aimed to allow terminally ill people who are close to death to request medical help to die.

But he has now told backbench MPs he will vote against a similar Bill in the Commons next month.

Mr Streeting said he switched his stance over concerns that palliative care is not good enough, claiming it might lead to people ending their lives prematurely. There are fears his view may influence other MPs.

Dame Esther, who has stage four lung cancer, questioned how he could support the current law and sent him a furious letter.

Writing in the Daily Express today, the "deeply disappointed" Childline founder said the MP for Ilford North ought to know that even the best palliative care cannot always prevent suffering.

Dame Esther, 84, questioned how he could be comfortable with the status quo, which is leaving families traumatised by bad deaths and denying people the choice to shorten their pain.

She highlighted the views of four past Directors of Public Prosecutions, including PM Sir Keir Starmer, who have spoken about problems with the current law.