Introducing assisted dying could strengthen palliative care, Mr Kinnock said (Image: Getty)
The Health Minister responsible for palliative and end-of-life care says he will vote In favour of the assisted dying Bill because “it’s the compassionate thing to do”.
Stephen Kinnock confirmed on Tuesday that he was backing efforts to give terminally ill people in the last six months of life greater choice.
He said: “I will be voting for the Bill on the 29th of November. I don’t think it’s an either/or question on hospices and palliative care.
“We of course have to work hard to improve hospices and palliative care but evidence shows that often countries and places that go with assisted dying actually see improvements in palliative care coming from that, so I don’t think it’s an either/or question.”
The minister – whose remit also covers adult social care, primary care, and community care in England – declined to comment on the Health Secretary’s claim that legalising assisted dying would mean NHS cuts elsewhere.
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Mr Kinnock said it should not be an ‘either/or’ choice between care and assisted dying (Image: Getty)
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Wes Streeting is staunchly opposing the Bill and last week claimed it would take resources from other parts of the health service, but later admitted the Department of Health had only just been asked to carry out a cost analysis.
Mr Kinnock added: “I think that assisted dying is the right thing to do from the point of view of compassion. Hundreds of people a year are taking matters into their own hands in uncontrolled environments.
“It’s not safe, it’s not compassionate, and I think it’s also right that people should have the choice to die a good death in the warm embrace of the people that they love. So it’s the compassionate thing to do.”
Mr Kinnock voted in favour of a similar assisted dying Bill which was defeated in the Commons in 2015.
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A majority of Cabinet ministers is currently expected to vote in favour of the current Bill brought by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy are among those who have expressed support.
Meanwhile, Mr Streeting, Education Secretary Bridget Philipson, Justine Secretary Shabana Mahmood have voiced their opposition.