--- title: "\"It's important for people to have a good death,\" says Rachael Maskell MP" date: 2025-03-06T22:00:00+00:00 author: Alicia Edmund canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/its-important-for-people-to-have-a-good-death-says-rachael-maskell-mp" section: Articles --- Share [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=1769260916495219&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fits-important-for-people-to-have-a-good-death-says-rachael-maskell-mp) [](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=%22It%27s%20important%20for%20people%20to%20have%20a%20good%20death%2C%22%20says%20Rachael%20Maskell%20MP&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fits-important-for-people-to-have-a-good-death-says-rachael-maskell-mp) [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/send?app_id=1769260916495219&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fits-important-for-people-to-have-a-good-death-says-rachael-maskell-mp&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fits-important-for-people-to-have-a-good-death-says-rachael-maskell-mp&display=popup) [](mailto:?subject=Shared%20from%20Evangelical%20Alliance&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Fits-important-for-people-to-have-a-good-death-says-rachael-maskell-mp) [ ![Interview with Rachael Maskell mp](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Interview with Rachael Maskell mp](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ## Cross Section Bonus Episode | Interview with Rachael Maskell MP ](#%0A%09%09%09) #### In a recent interview, Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, and our head of public policy Alicia Edmund discussed the heart behind the Commission on Palliative and End of Life Care. Rachael also set out her prediction ahead of the third reading vote in April on the assisted dying bill in Westminster. The assisted dying bill in Westminster has distracted the media, MPs and ministers’ attention away from the important and pressing question confronting our country at the moment, which is: ​“How should the government improve end of life and palliative care in the UK?” This interview with Rachael Maskell is an opportunity for listeners to hear how she is seeking to make palliative care a key talking point within Westminster. Sponsored[](#) [ ![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](https://www.oakhill.ac.uk/admissions/open-days) ### Parliamentarians launch an independent Palliative and End of Life Commission During prime minister’s questions in October last year, Rachel asked the deputy prime minister filling in whether ​“the Government would set up a commission for palliative and end of life care, so that everyone can access the very best support when terminally ill and have peaceful and dignified death”. In reply, the deputy prime minister gave a non-committal response but agreed to a minister meeting with Rachael to discuss the issue further. Not satisfied with the response, Rachael, along with other parliamentarians and leading clinical experts, launched an independent Commission for Palliative and End of Life Care and in January 2025 a call for evidence. As part of its three-month inquiry, the Commission will hear from international and domestic clinicians and hospice leaders, and disabilities rights groups will share research and new strategies for improving access and support for patients and their families at the end of life. The evidence session concludes on 17 April, when a report will be shared with parliamentarians, the public and the UK Government. Its findings will be an important contribution to the government’s 10-year strategy to improve the NHS and bring about social care reforms. To stay informed, visit the [Commission’s website](https://palliativecarecommission.uk/). Towards the end of the interview, Rachael discussed her concerns on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill currently in committee and shared top tips for Christians, especially those with clinical experience, to positively engage with your local MP on this issue. [ ![Kim Leadbeater replaces High Court judge with assisted dying review panels](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Kim Leadbeater MP](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Kim-Leadbeater-MP.jpeg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/kim-leadbeater-replaces-high-court-judge-with-assisted-dying-review-panels) [#### Kim Leadbeater replaces High Court judge with assisted dying review panels ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/kim-leadbeater-replaces-high-court-judge-with-assisted-dying-review-panels) Backbench Labour MPs are vocalising their concerns in response to Leadbeater’s U-turn [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 25 February 2025 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/kim-leadbeater-replaces-high-court-judge-with-assisted-dying-review-panels) [ ![Four groups negatively affected by the assisted dying bill](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Assisted Dying Demonstration in November](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/WhatsApp-Image-2024-11-29-at-09.46.45.jpeg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/four-groups-negatively-affected-by-the-assisted-dying-bill) [#### Four groups negatively affected by the assisted dying bill ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/four-groups-negatively-affected-by-the-assisted-dying-bill) An assisted death is a choice for the few at the expense of the many [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 24 March 2025 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/four-groups-negatively-affected-by-the-assisted-dying-bill) --- ### About Alicia Edmund ![]()Alicia joined the Evangelical Alliance as head of public policy in August 2021. Since then, she has worked on a range of issues from asylum resettlement, refugee integration, poverty relief and religious freedom in the UK and overseas. Alicia leads the advocacy team’s parliament and Whitehall engagement and is focusing all legislative engagement this year on three core themes: dignity, freedom and justice. [See more from Alicia Edmund](/author/alicia-edmund)