Assisted dying laws 'not a race', says Allinson

There is confidence that the Isle of Man's assisted dying legislation will be passed despite several setbacks, the MHK behind the bill has said.

Alex Allinson was speaking after Jersey became the first place in the British Isles to be granted Royal Assent to legalise assisted dying.

The Isle of Man was the first place to vote in favour of the laws in March 2025, but the government is still working to try get Royal Assent granted from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ).

Ramsey MHK Allinson, who authored the Manx bill, said Jersey had reached the milestone first but it was "not a race" and the priority was giving people facing a terminal illness "dignity and choice" at the end of life.

He said he was "pleased for the people of Jersey" and praised the Channel Island's government for being "extremely proactive" in bringing forward the legislation.

Being granted Royal Assent this week paved the way for Jersey to introduce an assisted dying service from September 2027.

Tynwald passed the Assisted Dying Bill 2023 last year but the MOJ called for amendments to build in further safeguards in primary legislation, before signing it off.

Those amendments were added and approved by members of Tynwald in June.

Allinson said he remained confident the legislation would receive Royal Assent.

But he added: "The Ministry of Justice have not been in contact with me to tell me whether that's imminent or not at this point."

He is planning to ask for the bill to be signed at the final sitting of Tynwald of this administration - on 21 July.

If the bill was signed by a Tynwald majority at the July sitting, it would remain protected until Royal Assent was received, he said.

Allinson, who is not standing for re-election in September, said he hoped implementation of the legislation would become "a clear priority" and would work "to implement the bill and to bring it into operation".

"I hope that the next chief minister will also make that commitment."

Assisted dying remains a divisive issue, with some doctors and GPs on the island arguing that vulnerable people should be protected rather than given access to such measures.

But campaigners for the law argue terminally ill people should have control over their final days.

Allinson said he believed developments in Jersey, the Isle of Man and Westminster reflected changing attitudes towards assisted dying.

"I hope that the various moves, both in Jersey, the Isle of Man, and the United Kingdom will provide this service and this choice for all of our peoples," he said.

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.