Burnham differs from Starmer on assisted dying bill, will skip vote to avoid influencing debate

Unlike his predecessor Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will not vote when the assisted dying bill for England and Wales returns to the House of Commons next month, saying he does not want to influence the debate, according to the BBC.The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is scheduled for its second reading in the Commons on September 11.The legislation would allow adults over 18 who are expected to die within six months to seek assistance to end their lives, subject to safeguards.In a letter to Labour MPs, Burnham said he had his "own personal views on the issue" but believed it was a matter for Parliament to decide."My role, as the prime minister, will be to lead a government that implements the will of Parliament in this area – whether that is to change the law or not," he wrote."I also do not want to unduly influence the debate as prime minister and for every colleague to know it is a genuinely free vote," Burnham added.Burnham differs from Starmer on assisted dying billBurnham's decision differs from former prime minister Keir Starmer, who voted in favour of the previous assisted dying bill at its second and third readings while maintaining the government's ...