Hilary Benn

Hilary Benn

Labour — Leeds South

Speaking in the House of Commons on 11 September 2026

Debate

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

Contribution

This is a very difficult moral and practical question, but for me it is fundamentally about whether we can act to relieve human suffering. We have heard a number of profoundly moving speeches in the debate, and I highlight in particular the speeches of my hon. Friends the Members for West Lancashire (Ashley Dalton) and for Filton and Bradley Stoke (Claire Hazelgrove). We are talking about people who fear or face unbearable pain, choking or gasping for breath, or loss of control at the end of their lives. Are they not vulnerable, too? For me, that is an important point. The question is, can we really look these people in the eye at the moment and say, “I’m very sorry, but I am not prepared to vote to support your being given the means to remove that fear”—not everyone will take advantage of the provision, but for them it is an assurance—“or to relieve that suffering, even though that is what you wish”? Are we going to say, “I’m sorry, but I will not give you the means of determining the manner of your passing from this world, surrounded by those whom you love”?

More from Hilary Benn

Other recent Hansard contributions by the same speaker.

About Hansard

Hansard is the official verbatim record of proceedings in the UK Parliament. Every word spoken in the Commons and Lords is recorded and published — this page is a single contribution from that record.

For Hilary Benn's full parliamentary record including voting history, expenses and all other contributions, see the Hilary Benn report card.