Full Breakdown
Rankin’s Campaign Revives Push for Assisted Dying Bill in England and Wales
5/19/2026, 1:38:37 AM
The Campaign’s Core Appeal
Photographer Rankin, working with the advocacy group Dignity in Dying, launched a series of 60-second videos titled *Time to Back the Bill Again* in May 2026. The films feature eight terminally ill individuals, aged 19 to 77, speaking directly about the need for an assisted-dying law. The videos are timed to coincide with a private-member’s bill ballot, urging backbench MPs to re-introduce the legislation that was halted in the House of Lords.
Legislative Background
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater introduced an assisted-dying bill that passed the House of Commons earlier in 2026. In the Lords, a handful of peers tabled roughly 1,200 amendments, preventing the bill from completing its stages. The legislation remains pending, awaiting another opportunity for debate and a vote.
Key Participants and Organizations
- Rankin – British photographer and director, creator of the video series.
- Dignity in Dying – Campaign group supporting assisted-dying legislation; its chief executive is Sarah Wootton.
- Paola Marra (53) – Terminal bowel-cancer patient who travelled to Dignitas in Switzerland before her death in March 2024.
- Barbara Shooter (69) – Charity worker who accompanied her husband Adrian Shooter (74, former chair of Chiltern Railways) to Dignitas in 2022 and now faces a diagnosis of motor neurone disease.
- Maddie Cowey (28) – London charity worker diagnosed with ultra-rare alveolar soft-part sarcoma at age 18.
Public Opinion Data
Polling commissioned by Dignity in Dignying and conducted by Opinium shows:
- 69 % of respondents believe parliamentary debate on assisted dying should continue until a decision is reached.
- 61 % think the government should ensure sufficient time for MPs and peers to consider and vote on the bill.
Official Statements & Responses
Dignity in Dying’s leadership emphasizes that the bill addresses a “cruel set of options” for terminal patients, arguing that the current system forces individuals either to endure suffering, travel abroad, or act alone. Rankin has described the Lords’ amendments as “unreasonable” and has called for democratic accountability in the legislative process. Leadbeater’s office reiterated that the Commons vote reflected a clear parliamentary majority in favour of the measure.
Criticism & Opposition
A minority of peers in the House of Lords have opposed the bill, citing concerns about safeguarding vulnerable individuals and the moral implications of assisted death. Their amendments have been characterised by campaigners as an “agenda” that obstructs democratic outcomes. No alternative legislative proposals were identified in the source material.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I asked what the occasion was, and she said: ‘I’m going to Dignitas.’” — Paola Marra, terminal bowel-cancer patient
- “It’s inspiring to meet them all, because they’re all very different and have very different rationale and reasons for it,” — Rankin, photographer
- “It was getting control back,” — Barbara Shooter, after her husband’s assisted death in Switzerland
- “Without treatment I would die, basically, and it’s not going to be cured,” — Maddie Cowey, sarcoma patient
- “Every week, dying people are left with the same cruel options: suffer, travel abroad to die, or act alone.” — Sarah Wootton, chief executive, Dignity in Dying
What’s Next
The private-member’s bill ballot scheduled for Thursday May 2026 will determine whether the assisted-dying legislation returns to the Commons for a second reading. Rankin’s campaign plans to release additional videos ahead of the vote, aiming to sustain public pressure and highlight personal testimonies from terminally ill patients.
