The UK’s new Justice Secretary, David Lammy, fears that legalising ‘assisted dying’ will put pressure on some vulnerable elderly people to end their lives.

Mr Lammy was moved to the Ministry of Justice in a reshuffle earlier this month, meaning he would be partly responsible for implementing a law to enable terminally ill adults deemed to have six months or less to live to avail of assisted suicide or euthanasia. Critics oppose the bill in principle, and also say it does not contain the safeguards it claims for itself.

The former foreign secretary has previously expressed fears that his own mother would have opted for euthanasia if it had been available before she died of cancer.

Mr Lammy is expected to give evidence to a newly established Lords committee in the coming weeks, giving him an opportunity to share his personal concerns.

Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, is also opposed to assisted suicide, meaning the two ministers who would have most responsibility for implementing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, should it pass, do not agree with it.