Cabinet tensions burst open over assisted dying law as one says voice concerns 'privately'

A Cabinet minister has urged Wes Streeting to voice his concerns on assisted dying "privately" amid a row over his public interventions on the topic.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson warned her ministerial colleagues that it's "usually best" if discussions are done "behind the scenes" after the Health Secretary appeared to use his government role to influence the debate. Mr Streeting has been under fire after ordering a review into the costs of changing the law and suggesting NHS services may need funding cuts if assisted dying is legalised.

Veteran Labour politician Harriet Harman, who was an MP for more than 40 years, said Mr Streeting’s actions "crossed a line".
Keir Starmer on Monday reminded ministers it's "very important" we maintain neutrality and don't pressure MPs.

The PM declined to defend Mr Streeting after being asked if he had breached the Government’s impartiality. Speaking to reporters on the plane to the G20 summit in Brazil, he said: "It's a free vote, but it's very important we maintain our neutrality. I certainly won't be putting pressure on anyone in relation to the way they vote.” It comes after reports emerged over the weekend that Mr Starmer personally told off the Health Secretary for his interference.

Mr Starmer said he would be voting when the Bill is put before the Commons at the end of November - but has refused to reveal his position. The former Director of Public Prosecutions, who oversaw a consultation on assisted dying when he was in post, said it is "crucially important" to strike the right balance.

He said: "I know this first hand because obviously I looked at every single assisted suicide case for five years that was investigated. I also did the biggest consultation in criminal justice when we did the consultation on assisted dying. It was the biggest response, because people felt so strongly."

Mr Streeting has repeatedly said he is not going to vote for the bill despite an initial warning from Cabinet Secretary Simon Case that ministers should remain neutral. The Prime Minister has previously said he is in favour of changing the law but, within this debate, has said he will “not be putting pressure on any MP to vote one way or the other”.

Ms Phillipson on Monday confirmed she would not vote to legalise on assisted dying, explaining that she had not changed her mind since voting against it the last time it was voted on in 2015. Speaking about the wider debate, she told Times Radio: "I think colleagues will, of course, as part of this conversation, want to discuss between ourselves, amongst other MPs, what the impact of any policy change would be.

"Also, what the impact would be if policy change didn't happen. It's right that those discussions take place. And I think it's usually best if those discussions are done so behind the scenes so that people can air, privately, concerns that they might have on all sides of the argument."

Asked if Mr Streeting's intervention influences the debate, she added: "Personally speaking, I weigh up a number of considerations. I'm sure that all colleagues will do in arriving at the conclusion that they feel best represents their views, the views of their constituents, the wider policy debate. These are complex and sensitive issues. And I think we're all just trying to do our very best to do so, to conduct this discussion in a responsible and understanding way."

Baroness Harman last week said Mr Streeting had "crossed the line in two ways". "Firstly, because he said that he was going to vote against it. He should not have said how he was going to vote, because that breaches neutrality and sends a signal," she told Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast.

“Secondly, he’s engaged his department to do work on this, which indicates that he thinks there’s a problem. He said the problem is that it will cost money to bring in an assisted dying measure and therefore he will have to cut other services. I think above all we should not be having this argument in respect of money. It should not come down to resources. It is a huge moral issue and it’s only a tiny number of people [who will use] a fraction of NHS resources.”

On November 29 MPs will vote for the first time on Kim Leadbeater's assisted dying, which would change the law to allow mentally competent terminally ill adults with six months or less to live to end their lives. The Labour MP has said she has found some of Mr Streeting's comments “quite disappointing and quite upsetting”. She told PoliticsHome: “I have found it disappointing that some members of the cabinet have spoken out very vocally on the issue, and others have done as instructed and not expressed their views.”

Tory shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also hit out at Mr Streeting, who he said was "basically using his position as Health Secretary to advance one side of the argument". He added: "I think that was wrong, actually... He was using arguments based on the fact he was Health Secretary. And I don't think either front bench should do that because it is a personal vote of conscience, it's not to do with party politics."

Mr Streeting and Ms Phillipson are joined by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones in opposing the bill. Meanwhile DWP Secretary Liz Kendall and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are among Cabinet ministers who are set to vote in favour of changing the law.