Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has backed calls for a change in the law on assisted dying.

The cause has been championed by Dame Esther Rantzen, who has called for politicians to grapple with the issue for the first time since 2015.

The Childline founder and broadcaster, 83, has stage four lung cancer and earlier this week said she has joined the assisted dying clinic Dignitas.

The Labour leader, who backed a change in the law the last time the issue was voted on in the Commons in 2015, acknowledged it would have to be addressed carefully.

Sir Keir Starmer visit to Estonia
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was asked about his views on assisted dying during a visit to Estonia to see British troops (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

“On the question of assisted dying, there are obviously strong views both ways on this, which I respect,” he told reporters during a visit to Estonia.

“And that’s why traditionally, this has always been dealt with with a private member’s bill and a free vote and that seems appropriate to me.

“I personally do think there are grounds for changing the law, we have to be careful, but it would have to be, I think, a free vote on an issue where there are such divided and strong views.”

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the issue was always treated as a “matter of conscience”, with MPs given a free vote.

She declined to say whether she thought it was time for another vote in Parliament, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today: “As Health Secretary, I think actually, it’s right that I don’t express an opinion on this.”

But she added: “I think that if there was a will in Parliament that it will happen, if Members of Parliament, backbenchers, want it to happen.”

On Wednesday Dame Esther told the PA news agency: “I would say to parliamentarians, ‘Think of the people you love in your own life, maybe who are older, maybe who are unwell, and think how you would wish them to spend their last days and weeks’.

“It is agonising to watch someone you love suffer. Nobody wants that for their family. And we live in a day and age when it’s perfectly possible to offer people a gentle, peaceful death.”

Assisted suicide is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

Dame Esther Rantzen illness
Dame Esther Rantzen has thrust the issue of assisted dying back into the political spotlight (Jonathan Brady/PA)

In Scotland, it is not a specific criminal offence but assisting the death of someone can leave a person open to murder or other charges.

Legislation is being put forward by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, with the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill due to come before Holyrood next year.

The Health and Social Care Committee is due to publish its report into assisted dying and assisted suicide in England and Wales, having launched an inquiry in December 2022 to examine different perspectives in the debate.