Esther: My fingers will be crossed on assisted dying vote

DAME Esther Rantzen last night welcomed the publication of a “wonderful” assisted dying Bill – described as the safest in the world.

- Hanna Geissler

MPs now have three weeks to scrutinise the 40-page document ahead of a second reading in the Commons on November 29.

Dame Esther, 84, who has terminal lung cancer, said “unless my miracle drug turns out to be totally miraculous and gives me a couple more years of life”, she is unlikely to live long enough to see the Bill become law.

But she added: “I’m amazed and thrilled to have lived long enough to hear the debate on this deeply sensitive issue. I wish I could be in the public gallery to witness it – it will be such a landmark life-and-death moment. I’ll certainly be glued to my television with my fingers firmly crossed that the vote will go the way the vast majority of the public want and have waited for so long.”

Strict