Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told Labour MPs he will abstain from voting on the assisted dying bill when it returns to the Commons next month. Mr Burnham stated his intention is to avoid influencing the debate, allowing MPs to reach their own collective view.
In a separate letter to his ministers on Friday, Mr Burnham warned them against attempting to influence the process. He confirmed that collective responsibility would be set aside for this issue, allowing frontbenchers to vote or abstain as they choose.
The government's official position on the assisted dying bill is to remain neutral, with Mr Burnham stating it is "vital that every view is respected." He added that his role as prime minister would be to lead a government that implements the will of parliament in this area.
The current private member's bill, tabled by Labour MP Lauren Edwards, is a near-identical version of a previous bill. It seeks to allow adults with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death, subject to the approval of two doctors and an expert panel. The bill is scheduled for its second reading in the Commons on 11 September.