Sir Keir Starmer has 'doubled down' on his promise to hold a free vote on assisted dying in the future. The new prime minister has not committed to a timeline for considering a change of law, although hinted it may not be in the coming year. But his stance is that MPs will be able to choose to vote with their conscience, rather than along party lines.
It's just, we've got to set our priorities for the first year or so. 'But I will double down on the commitment that we are going to do that. We will allow time for a private member's bill. It will be a free vote.' A free vote is when MPs can vote with their conscience or personal belief, as opposed to being told how to by their parties. It is common on matters to do with health, religion or military intervention.