Thank you for contacting me about assisted dying.
Coping with terminal illness is distressing and difficult both for the patient and their families. These cases are truly moving and deserve the highest degree of compassion. I am clear that debates on assisted dying should never distract from the importance of delivering high-quality palliative care services.
Thank you for your kind encouragement to attend the inaugural meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Choice at the End of Life. I am afraid that I was unable to join the event. However, please be assured that I will apprise myself of any new developments in this area.
I was proud to stand on a manifesto that maintained that assisted dying is a matter of conscience. A change in the law would only be made if it became the clearly expressed will of Parliament to do so.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.