Andy Burnham Urged to Halt Assisted Dying Bill Amid Disability Care Reform Demands

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is facing calls from disability rights groups to delay his planned assisted dying bill. Opponents argue that the legislation, if enacted without prior improvements to social care, would place sick and disabled people at unwarranted risk.

Campaigners Demand Care Reform Priority

Organisations representing disabled individuals maintain that current social care deficiencies could lead people to consider assisted dying not from genuine choice, but due to inadequate support and services. They assert that the focus should first be on bolstering social care and ensuring a robust independent living system.

A spokesperson for the campaign highlighted concerns that financial pressures and insufficient care options could coerce vulnerable individuals into decisions they might not otherwise make. The groups are urging Mayor Burnham to prioritise a complete overhaul of the social care system before advancing any legislation on assisted dying, stressing that lives are at stake.