Jonathan Dimbleby urges MPs to ‘get off the fence’ on assisted dying

After his younger brother, Nicholas, died with debilitating motor neurone disease earlier this year, Dimbleby said the current law was “ anachronistically cruel ”.

He said: “I have come to the conclusion that as long as extremely strict controls are put in place, so that no one feels pressurised to end their life, I am supportive of the legalisation of assisted dying.”

The Labour MP Rachel Hopkins said: “Only those with financial means have access to choice.” She said dying people were being forced to take “horrible, lonely decisions” because there was no legal option.

Rantzen was unable to attend the rally and debate due to health issues, but said: “I know palliative care can be wonderful in this country, but it cannot guarantee the dignified, pain-free death we terminally ill patients all hope for.

Before the debate, the thinktank Centre released a paper addressing two main concerns around the legalisation of assisted dying: that a law may be open to abuse, and that it may lead to reduced funding for an already under-resourced palliative care system.

Assisted dying legislation led to “increased awareness of the importance of offering patients a variety of choices to best suit their personal preferences and give them the most dignity in death,” it said.