Andrew Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield and the newly appointed co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group for choice at the end of life, said he believes a law legalising euthanasia could be passed before the end of the current parliament in 2024.

However, Lord Alton, a long-time pro-life advocate, disagrees.

“Too often statements like these are not predictions but indicative of a determination to make the wish father to the deed,” Lord Alton told The Catholic Universe.

“The proponents of euthanasia drip, drip, drip the thought that changing the law to permit lawful killing is inevitable. But what is it they want to make lawful?

“They argue that euthanasia should be allowed in limited circumstances to alleviate pain when someone is dying.

“But we all know this is a monumental deceit,” Lord Alton said.