from Right to Life News
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, who has long been a supporter of assisted suicide, has announced his intention to resign as Prime Minister, following Andy Burnham’s by-election victory on Friday 19 June. But what does his resignation mean for the pro-life movement?
Unsuccessful attempt to make assisted suicide legal under Keir Starmer
Starmer has long signalled his support for introducing assisted suicide to the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister previously voted in favour of making assisted suicide legal in 2015 and has been an outspoken supporter of a change in the law since.
Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Starmer made a promise to Esther Rantzen, former TV personality and assisted suicide activist, that he would allow a vote on assisted suicide in the next parliament if he won the next election – which he subsequently did. Previously, Starmer told Rantzen that he was “personally in favour of changing the law” to allow assisted suicide, saying, “We will make the commitment”.
During his first trip abroad as Prime Minister, Sir Keir reaffirmed his position in favour of assisted suicide, promising a free vote “by way of a private member’s bill”.
When Kim Leadbeater was successful in the Private Members’ Bill ballot in 2024, The Guardian reported that there was a private meeting between her and No10 to see if there would be any objections to her bringing forward an assisted suicide Bill; there were no objections.
Despite His Majesty’s Government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, claiming to be neutral regarding Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill, and allowing a free vote on it, the Government made considerable allowances for the Bill. Significant additional time was allocated for scrutiny of the assisted suicide Bill in the House of Lords, with the Government in November 2025 allocating seven additional sitting Fridays for the Bill on top of those that had already been scheduled. This decision required Peers to sit every Friday in January, and on most other Fridays before Easter, including 27 March, when the House was supposed to be in recess.
Abortion up to birth for women in relation to their own pregnancies under Keir Starmer