Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of policy, Andy Burnham, says the debate on assisted dying should be delayed until reforms to end-of-life care and social care are implemented. Speaking in the context of his wider plan to address a long-running issue in British politics, Burnham says he is not opposed to holding an assisted dying debate, but that introducing legislation would be “very challenging” before the care system is improved. His remarks are reported as disappointing Labour MPs who had been hoping to revive contentious assisted dying legislation later in the year. The comments frame assisted dying as closely linked to broader improvements in palliative and social care, suggesting that policy changes to support people at the end of life should come first. While the reports do not outline specific legislative timelines, they agree that Burnham’s position is to prioritize reforms to care services before moving forward with assisted dying proposals. The debate remains politically sensitive, and Burnham’s statement indicates a shift toward sequencing reforms rather than pressing ahead with a vote or bill this year.