200,000 DEMAND DAME ESTHER GETS HER DYING WISH

DAME Esther Rantzen says MPs must "now listen to the voice of the people" as the Express petition calling for a free vote on assisted dying hit 200,000 last night.

- Hanna Geissler

The campaigner, who has stage four lung cancer, argues the groundswell of support across the country shows the "current law is cruel and must be changed". Our petition has become the most popular on the Government's official website and has already secured a landmark debate next Monday, April 29.

Dame Esther, 83, said: "This petition shows 200,000 reaI sons why it is time for MPs to listen to the voice of the people.

"Sadly won't be able to attend next week's debate but I will be watching it from home.

"Although the debate can't change the law, I hope that so many powerful voices will take part that the Government will be forced to pay attention and make time for this life and death issue to be thoroughly investigated.

"So many of us feel that the current law is cruel and must be changed."

The Daily Express Give Us Our Last Rights crusade, launched two years ago, is leading calls for a change in the law to allow assisted dying for terminally ill adults.

It received a major boost when Dame Esther bravely revealed she had registered with Dignitas in Zurich, Switzerland, after her diagnosis in January last year. Thousands have since rallied to back her call for the right to die and, earlier this week, the Childline founder joined a private meeting with the Express and MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who will open the petition debate.

Dame Esther, a lifelong campaigner, said she surprised was the outpouring of support she received after JR 135 speaking about her situation last December.

She said: "When I mentioned it in a TS podcast, I had no idea it was going to get the traction it did. It just seemed to resonate with so many people.