That approach is not proving so straightforward. It's far from clear the bill will pass, cabinet ministers like Wes Streeting have spoken out against it, and even some in Number 10 say they would rather it didn't pass, so they could spend political time and energy on other things - ThreadSky

pronouncedalva.bsky.social • 100 days ago

That approach is not proving so straightforward. It's far from clear the bill will pass, cabinet ministers like Wes Streeting have spoken out against it, and even some in Number 10 say they would rather it didn't pass, so they could spend political time and energy on other things

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pronouncedalva.bsky.social•100 days ago

Despite Starmer's position on assisted dying being known, by declining to repeat his position in recent months, he leaves British politics in the odd position of having a PM hoping to see social reform, without showing personal leadership on it in the way eg. Cameron did on gay marriage in 2013.

pronouncedalva.bsky.social•100 days ago

That comes with the big caveat - emphasised by No 10 - that we don't know for certain that Starmer still supports it - even though we have his past comments and plenty of people in the know say they're expecting him to vote for it.

pronouncedalva.bsky.social•100 days ago

“I don’t think he has fully thought through the political consequences of this for him if it falls,” says @steverichards.bsky.social. “It will be associated with his government if it gets through and will be seen as a lost opportunity for Starmer if it fails.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-23/labour-rifts-open-over-assisted-dying-bill-starmer-encouraged

pronouncedalva.bsky.social•100 days ago

The Wilson-style strategy is risky, esp with Wes Streeting said to be showing leadership the prime minister hasn’t - and in the opposing direction.

The media scrutiny has caused frustration with Streeting among the cabinet, and Starmer himself held a meeting with him to express his displeasure

pronouncedalva.bsky.social•100 days ago

Streeting's interventions have prompted greater scrutiny of the whole cabinet on the issue.
For, the majority of cabinet, inc: Ed Miliband, Liz Kendall, chief whip
Against: Wes Streeting, Bridget Phillipson, Angela Rayner (per sources)
Others expected to announce how they're voting on the day

pronouncedalva.bsky.social•100 days ago

Streeting is known to have leadership ambitions but his supporters say he intervened purely because he cares about the issue - and actually his intervention puts him at odds with many on his own flank and probs most Labour MPs. But he is said to regret putting the PM in an uncomfortable position

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