Sir Keir Starmer has rebuked his health secretary for his repeated public interventions against the legalisation of assisted dying in England and Wales.
Senior Whitehall sources claimed the Prime Minister was irritated that Wes Streeting ignored cabinet secretary Simon Case’s instructions to be neutral and avoid influencing the vote.
But Mr Streeting, who said he intends to vote against the assisted dying bill when it is debated later this month, ordered his officials to review the costs of implementing any changes in the law.
Staff in the health department are also said to be dismayed by Mr Streeting’s intervention.
He said: “There have been some informal discussions where staff have expressed their views,” a source said.
They added: “Staff have flagged that the call for a review [of costs of the policy] does seem to cut across routine process. There are some concerns about Streeting the secretary of state expressing a view, rather than Streeting the MP.”
The health secretary on Wednesday addressed the NHS Providers conference in Liverpool where he said he had asked his department to look at the costs that would be associated with “providing a new service to enable assisted dying to go forward.”
Mr Streeting said he was worried about a “chilling slippery slope argument” if people felt compelled to end their own lives as a cost-saving measure.
But he added: “Regardless of my own personal position or my own vote, my department and the whole government will respect the will of parliament if people vote for assisted dying.”
Meanwhile Angela Rayner is set to become the most senior Cabinet minister to vote against legalising assisted dying this month.
At least five Cabinet ministers, including the Deputy Prime Minister, are now expected to oppose the legislation on 29 November.
An insider said of Ms Rayner, a former care worker: “No way will she support this.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is also expected to vote against, alongside Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
The Daily Express Give Us Our Last Rights crusade has for more than two years amplified the voices of terminally ill people and others affected by the blanket ban on assisted dying.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has said she is leaning towards voting in favour of the assisted dying bill.
She said: “I am still considering. It’s a matter of public record that I voted in favour last time and that is where I am leaning, totally honestly.
“But I am really conscious that there are concerns particularly from disabled advocacy groups around and concerns around palliative care so I am considering that. I think this is a really important moment for the country as a whole to reflect.
“I don’t think anybody should for a second think that as MPs we don’t take this decision seriously, and it’s a very very difficult decision that I am weighing up on both sides.”
Asked if she shares Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s concerns about an absence of palliative care, she said: “I think we can all acknowledge that palliative care isn’t in as good as state as it should be so I am listening to those concerns. But I also don’t think this is an either or and that’s why I’m weighing up all those representations.
“I’m very conscious that people have very strong views on both sides and I’m talking to my constituents about it.”
Meanwhile shadow home secretary Chris Philp has said he “would be prepared” to vote in favour of assisted dying in support of “personal liberty”.
He told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “I personally do believe in the sanctity of life. I would never want to engage in assisted dying or assisted suicide myself. I wouldn’t want my family to. I would never encourage anyone to.
“But I also respect personal choice and personal liberty, and I don’t want to use the power of my vote in parliament to stop somebody else exercising a choice in certain very restricted circumstances.”
He added: “My view is a personal one, is not one on behalf of the opposition or my party and I think, by the way, Wes Streeting was quite naughty earlier this week, to use his position as Health Secretary to make Government arguments.”
