Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK must repair palliative and social care funding before Parliament considers legalising assisted dying, marking a shift from his predecessor's position. Speaking at a north London care home, Burnham argued end-of-life services need fixing first, even as MPs prepare to debate the issue when Parliament returns in September 2026.
Labour MP Lauren Edwards, who is sponsoring the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, insisted care improvements can proceed alongside legalisation. The measure includes a four-year implementation period, potentially allowing until 2031 to address service shortfalls. A previous version introduced by Kim Leadbeater passed the Commons in 2025 but failed in the Lords after peers tabled hundreds of amendments.
Archbishop John Sherrington welcomed Burnham's intervention as "highly significant." Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer had backed the earlier legalisation attempt.