Amid growing concerns over cabinet ministers potentially influencing the public discourse on the proposed assisted dying bill, Downing Street has come out in defense of Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The Prime Minister’s spokesperson rejected suggestions that Streeting’s recent interventions breached the government’s official stance of neutrality on the deeply emotive issue.
PM’s Office Backs Streeting, Affirms Government Neutrality
When questioned about whether ministers were adhering to the guidance issued by the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case last month, which instructed them to refrain from engaging in the public debate surrounding the bill, the PM’s spokesperson provided reassurance. “Yes. Ultimately, this is a case where the PM has said it is a free vote for MPs,” they stated, adding, “Government will respect the will of parliament. Cabinet ministers have made very clear that the whole of government will respect the will of parliament on this deeply emotive issue.”
Streeting’s Controversial Comments Addressed
Streeting recently sparked controversy when he implied that legalizing assisted dying could lead to cuts in other areas of the NHS budget. When specifically asked about these remarks, which prompted the bill’s sponsor, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, to suggest Streeting was disregarding ministerial advice, the PM’s spokesperson pointed back to the Health Secretary’s own words. “I point you back to what the health secretary himself has said, which is that his department, the whole of government, will respect the will of parliament on this issue,” they reiterated.
Government Defends Right to Examine Legislative Implications
Addressing claims that Streeting’s comments about potential NHS funding impacts constituted an intervention in the debate, the spokesperson asserted that it was “common practice for government to examine implications of possible legislative proposals, including private members’ bills.” This suggests that the government views analyzing the potential consequences of the assisted dying bill as falling within its purview, even as it maintains an outwardly neutral stance.
PM’s Voting Intentions Remain Unclear
The spokesperson declined to confirm whether Prime Minister Keir Starmer would definitely be participating in the forthcoming debate and vote on the bill, which is scheduled for two weeks from now. This leaves open the question of how the PM himself intends to engage with this contentious issue.
According to a close source, there is a delicate balancing act at play as the government attempts to respect the will of parliament while also grappling with the practical implications of the proposed legislation.
As the debate surrounding the assisted dying bill continues to unfold, all eyes will be on Westminster to see how cabinet members, MPs, and the Prime Minister himself navigate this complex and emotive issue. With passions running high on both sides of the argument, maintaining true neutrality may prove to be an increasingly difficult task for the government in the weeks and months ahead.
