Burnham Says Palliative And Social Care Must Be Fixed Before Assisted‑Dying Debate Resumes

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the funding of palliative and social care should be resolved before Parliament resumes a debate on assisted dying in England and Wales.

Prime Minister Sets Conditions

This is the first time Burnham has publicly set out his position on assisted dying since becoming prime minister. His remarks, made as MPs prepare to revisit the issue when Parliament returns in September, suggest he may not personally support a bill proposed by Labour MP Lauren Edwards, even though the government is expected to remain officially neutral.

Burnham told reporters: "I take the view that that debate - and I don't say that there shouldn't be a debate at some point about those issues - personally, I think there's something that needs to happen first. That is the fixing of the funding of palliative care and social care. I think it is very challenging to introduce that wider debate in a context of people not receiving that care and having the peace of mind about that care."

Recent Parliamentary History

In 2025, MPs voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. The bill would have allowed adults aged 18 and over who were expected to die within six months to seek help to end their own life, subject to safeguards.

The bill passed the House of Commons but stalled in the House of Lords after an unprecedented number of amendments delayed its progress and it ran out of time in April. Opponents argued the legislation contained substantial flaws that might leave vulnerable people at risk of pressure to end their lives early.

What Comes Next

Labour MP Lauren Edwards plans to reintroduce an identical bill in an effort to "finish the job" begun by Leadbeater. Edwards has pointed out that the previous bill included a four-year implementation period, which she says would allow until 2031 to address the care sector problems Burnham highlighted if a new bill became law next year.

Labour MP Jess Asato, an opponent of the bill, warned that Parliament must consider whether it is safe to introduce such legislation while the care system is under strain. She argued that meaningful choice and dignity at the end of life depend on a well-funded palliative care system and an affordable social care infrastructure.

Burnham's Personal Record

Before becoming prime minister, Burnham had signalled conditional support for assisted dying. In 2024 he told BBC Manchester he would "probably vote in favour of it" if he were in Parliament, but he has long emphasised the need for robust safeguards and properly funded hospice and social care provision. As an MP in 2015 he abstained on a different assisted‑dying bill because of concerns about pressure and safeguards; family experience since then, he says, has changed his view on the principle.

Burnham has also announced plans to reform social care, including proposals for a national care service and efforts to build cross-party consensus on funding. He said difficult decisions will be needed to reform and finance care services in England.

Context

The assisted‑dying debate touches on complex ethical, legal and practical issues: balancing individual choice and autonomy with protections for vulnerable people, and ensuring equitable access to high-quality palliative and social care. MPs, campaigners and medical professionals remain sharply divided on the timing and content of any future legislation.