The White House has launched a scathing attack on Britain over Parliament's support for assisted dying legislation, with the US state department condemning it as "state-sponsored suicide".
The US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour issued a statement criticising the Bill that would legalise assisted dying for terminally ill people.
"As the UK Parliament considers support for state-subsidised suicide, euphemistically called a Bill for 'terminally ill adults' the United States reaffirms the sanctity of life," the bureau said.
The statement added: "The Western world should stand for life, vitality and hope over surrender and death."
The White House has launched a scathing attack on Britain over Parliament's support for assisted dying legislation, with the US state department condemning it as 'state-sponsored suicide'
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The intervention reportedly caught Downing Street off guard, marking another instance of the Trump administration's willingness to comment on British domestic policy.
The Commons voted 314 to 291 last week to support Kim Leadbeater's Private Member's Bill, a majority of 23, setting the stage for assisted dying services to potentially begin by decade's end.
The legislation now moves to House of Lords scrutiny.
The US intervention comes despite Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, not raising the matter during his recent meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
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The legislation now moves to House of Lords scrutiny.
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The Trump administration has shown growing readiness to comment on UK domestic matters, having previously criticised the government over perceived threats to free speech.
The Bill exists despite similar legislation already operating in twelve US jurisdictions, including Washington DC.
Trump's own position on assisted dying remains unclear, though his Supreme Court nominees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh are known opponents.
Sir John Hayes, chairman of the Tory Common Sense Group, called the US statement "disturbing" for UK-US relations whilst agreeing with its content.
Protesters gather to support assisted dyingPAHe said: "It is unusual for our closest ally to become involved in issues around the legislative detail of what goes on in Parliament."
Sir Keir Starmer, who supports the legislation, pledged to ensure the Bill's implementation despite his Health Secretary's budget concerns.
"It is my responsibility to make sure the Bill is workable, and that means workable in all its aspects. I'm confident we've done that preparation," the Prime Minister said during his trip to The Hague.
The state department's intervention follows recent US engagement with British pro-life activists over freedom of expression concerns, with a five-person team interviewing campaigners and challenging Ofcom on the Online Safety Act.
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