Conservative leadership (UK) candidates who oppose assisted suicide.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The 2024 UK Conservative Party leadership election began on 5 July 2024 when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared his intention to resign as Conservative Party leader following the party's defeat in the July 4, 2024 general election.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Labour) who won the election has been a long-time supporter of assisted suicide.

Kitty Donaldson, the INews Chief Political Commentator wrote on September 5, 2024 that Robert Jenrick, the front-runner in the Conservative leadership campaign, has changed his position on assisted suicide. Donaldson reported:

Jenrick, who emerged as the front-runner after comfortably coming top in the first round of voting among Tory MPs on Wednesday, has been on a political journey. Once seen as a liberal Tory and close friend of Rishi Sunak’s – the two played computer games together – Jenrick both stormed out of Sunak’s government over immigration while also becoming more socially conservative over the last few years. Despite voting for legalising assisted dying in 2015, his about-turn has been informed by Canada’s experience of changing the law, his allies said.

Jenrick is one of many politicians who may philosophically support assisted suicide but based on Canada's experience, is now opposing it. It is unknown whether his position is based on winning the leadership race or is a real change in position.

Donaldson also reported that Conservative leadership candidate James Cleverly remains opposed to assisted suicide.

Fellow leadership contender James Cleverly voted against assisted dying in 2015 and is understood not to have changed his position, but wants to support improving palliative care.

Even though Tom Tugendhat is currently running fourth in the leadership race, he has also voted against assisted suicide in the past.

The position of the next UK Conservative leader is important since the Labour Party won the last election and it's leader, Keir Starmer, is a long time supporter of assisted suicide. 

We expect a bill to legalize assisted suicide will be debate in Britain in 2025.