Labour peer accused of 'highly offensive' remarks in row over assisted dying bill

A bitter Labour war of words erupted yesterday over the role of religion in the plan to legalise assisted dying.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL, MILLIE COOKE and SIMON WALTERS

A senior Labour MP denounced Lord Falconer for claiming justice secretary Shabana Mahmood opposed the law change because it was against her Muslim faith.

Rachael Maskell, who also opposes assisted dying, called on Lord Falconer to say sorry for his “offensive and discriminatory” comments.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Independent, former Labour health minister Ben Bradshaw accused bishops in the Church of England of being “out of step with Anglicans”, criticising the church for “giving the impression that there is only one Christian view on assisted dying”.

Ms Maskell’s intervention came after Lord Falconer said cabinet ministers should not impose their religious beliefs on others in their objections to assisted dying.

Lord Falconer, an ally of Sir Keir Starmer, said the justice secretary had “religious and spiritual reasons” for being opposed to assisted dying. “I think she’s motivated – and I respect this – by her religious beliefs. They shouldn’t be imposed on everybody else,” he added.

Asked yesterday by the BBC to respond to Lord Falconer’s remarks, Ms Maskell, who has spoken in the past of her strong Christian faith, said: “I find it highly offensive and discriminatory... and he should apologise for making such comments.”

The row comes as temperatures are flaring on the Labour benches about the assisted dying bill, which MPs will vote on this Friday.