A bitter new Labour war of words erupted today over the role of religion in the plan to legalise assisted dying.
A senior Labour MP denounced Lord Falconer for saying justice secretary Shabana Mahmood was wrong to say she opposes the law change because it is against her Muslim faith.
Labour’s Rachel Maskell, who also opposes assisted dying, called on Falconer to say sorry for his ‘offensive and discriminatory’ comments.
Her intervention came after Lord Falconer said cabinet ministers should not impose their religious beliefs on others in their objections to assisted dying.
Lord Falconer, an ally of Sir Keir Starmer, said the justice secretary had “religious and spiritual reasons” for being opposed to assisted dying.
“I think she’s motivated – and I respect this – by her religious beliefs. They shouldn’t be imposed on everybody else,” he added.
Asked today by the BBC to respond to Lord Falconer’s remarks, Ms Maskell, who has spoken in the past of her strong Christian faith, said: “I find it highly offensive and discriminatory… and he should apologise for making such comments.”
The row comes as temperatures are flaring on the Labour benches about the assisted dying bill, which MPs will vote on this Friday.
Sir Keir’s government is split on the move, with the prime minister choosing not to reveal how he will vote while health secretary Wes Streeting plans to oppose it.
And, in a letter to constituents revealed on Sunday, Ms Mahmood said she was “profoundly concerned” by the proposed legislation, ahead of a historic Commons vote this week.
Ms Mahmood, the UK’s most senior Muslim politician, said her concerns were not just for religious reasons but because it could create a “slippery slope towards death on demand”.
Former justice secretary Lord Falconer hit back, saying Ms Mahmood was “wrong” to say the safeguards in the assisted dying bill were not enough.
He told Sky News: “I think she’s motivated by religious belief – which I respect – but it shouldn’t be imposed on everyone else.”
Polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice said today that while surveys show consistent public backing for assisted dying, it has less support among those with religious views.
He said approximately two in three voters favour a change in the law with one in six against – with little change in polls over the last 40 years.
It meant assisted dying was “less controversial” than historic decisions to abolish capital punishment and legalise gay marriage where the public’s view at the time had not been not so clear.
Professor Curtice added: “It is fair to say that those with religious views, Christian, Muslim or whatever, are less keen on assisted dying than the rest of the population.”
It has been described as potentially the biggest change in Britain’s social laws since abortion was legalised in 1967.
With days to go before the historic vote, the result is on a knife-edge, with backers of the bill believing they have enough support, while opponents believe they may be able to block it.
In a significant intervention on Friday, Gordon Brown came out against the legislation, arguing instead for the establishment of a commission on improved palliative care.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy, Work and Pensions secretary Liz Kendall, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn, Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband have all said they will back the law.
As well as Ms Mahmood and Mr Streeting, education secretary Bridget Phillipson and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds have said they will reject the legislation.
Lord Falconer also attacked “rule-breakers” for speaking out against the bill. Cabinet secretary Simon Case last month said the government would remain neutral on the bill and that ministers should avoid taking part in public debate.
Speaking to The Guardian, Lord Falconer said: “The rule-breakers are getting more coverage because they’re breaking the rules so spectacularly.”
Many of those opposed to a law change have voiced concern about the potential for coercion and mission creep, and say the legislation has been rushed.
A group of group of 29 faith leaders united to oppose the Bill in joint letter on Sunday, saying they were “deeply concerned” that it could open up the possibility of “life-threatening abuse”.
Ms Leadbeater has described the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill as the most “robust” in the world, with “three layers of scrutiny” in the form of a sign-off by two doctors and a High Court judge.
It would also make coercion an offence with a possible punishment of 14 years in jail.
The Bill, which covers England and Wales, states that only terminally-ill adults with under six months left to live and a settled wish to die would be eligible.
Lord Falconer was contacted for comment.
